US President Donald Trump says US bombers moved from RAF Fairford over ‘some threats’ to the base

Donald Trump says “some threats” prompted the United States to removed its bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

Speaking to reporters as he left the White House on Monday, the US President said the aircraft “didn’t fly out by accident” and that US authorities knew who had made the threat.

“There were some threats,” Mr Trump said, adding that Washington had decided not to leave the aircraft exposed while the situation was assessed.

“We actually know the people who made the threat,” he added, without saying who.

“And rather than tempting the enemy, we’ll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit. Not very far.”

Asked if there was a “specific threat” that led to the removal of the US bombers, Mr Trump replied: “Yeah I think we can say that.

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford had been returned to their home station in the US.

The aircraft included B-1 bombers, with reports indicating that roughly a dozen aircraft had been operating from the base.

The move comes days after a suspected terrorist incident near Fairford. Five British men were arrested on September 27 after police were alerted to suspicious activity involving several vans close to the military site.

No explosives were found, but police said petrol was discovered. A sixth man, a British-Iranian dual national was subsequently arrested in London.

All six men have been released on bail while the investigation continues.

British authorities have indicated they believe Iran may be involved in the suspected plot, although Tehran has rejected the allegations.

Mr Trump had previously suggested the alleged plan was intended to cause “big damage” and questioned the decision to release the suspects on bail.