The President of the United States, Donald Trump, admitted this Monday the existence of a "threat" as the underlying reason for ordering the departure of the B-1 bombers from the British airbase in Fairford. The decision came after a "terrorist" incident was declared in the area last week and six people were arrested and subsequently released.
"They didn't leave there by accident. There are some threats and instead of tempting the enemy we are going to capture the enemy and hit the enemy. Why leave them there? We have moved them a little, not very far," Trump stated in remarks to the U.S. press.
The president explained that "it costs very little money to move them, relatively," and insisted that "we had a threat and if they are going to threaten us, we move them and that solves it." "We already know who the threat was and they are in big trouble," he warned, without providing further details about the nature of that risk.
Asked about the security of the United Kingdom as a destination for the deployment of U.S. troops and resources, Trump replied "yes." "We have a very good relationship with your new prime minister. He is liberal, very liberal, but I have heard he is going to reopen North Sea oil. If he does, you will be a rich country," the U.S. president argued.
In parallel to these statements, this same Monday the Secretary of State and National Security Advisor of the United States, Marco Rubio, denied that there is any link between the relocation of the B-1 bombers and the incident that occurred more than a week ago near the Fairford base, an episode that British authorities are investigating as "terrorist" and for which six people were arrested.
On September 27, a "major incident" was declared at the military facility, where U.S. personnel operate, which forced the evacuation of dozens of nearby homes. That day, security forces intercepted three "suspicious vehicles" and arrested five young people aged between 23 and 25, all of whom are British citizens residing in London.
The five suspects were released on bail, although they remain under investigation, while a sixth individual, a British-Iranian man, was arrested last Thursday accused of "preparing terrorist acts" and remains in police custody.