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US bombers pulled from RAF Fairford base after suspected terror plot

the GuardianEnglish

About this story

Aircraft leave Gloucestershire base to return to US following arrest of dual British-Iranian national in central London

Summary from the Guardian

Section: US news
By: Dan Sabbagh, Marina Dunbar, Charlie Moloney
Published: Oct 4, 2026, 9:25 PM UTC
Updated: Oct 5, 2026, 3:28 PM UTC

How other outlets describe it

Two Latvians arrested on a suspicion of trespassing on an RAF base in Cambridgeshire have been released on bail.

AOL.co.ukUnited KingdomLatvians arrested inside RAF base released on bail

Police say the two Latvian nationals have been bailed with "strict conditions".

AOL.caCanadaPair bailed after security breach at RAF base

Topics in this story

#bombers #pulled #raf #fairford #base

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Background

Context from Wikipedia on the organisations, people and places in this story.

RAF Fairford

Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Royal Air Force Fairford or more simply RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Since 2019, the base has played host to a Lockheed U-2S Dragon Lady detachment from the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. It is the USAF's only European airfield for heavy bombers and routinely supports Bomber Task Force operations. Its most prominent use in recent decades has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the first Gulf War in 1991, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, the 2003 Iraq War, and the 2026 Iran war.

Gloucestershire

County of England

Gloucestershire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire to the east, Wiltshire to the south, Bristol and Somerset to the south-west, and the Welsh county of Monmouthshire to the west. The largest settlement is the city of Gloucester.

Iranians in the United Kingdom

Iranian citizens and nationals of the United Kingdom

Iranians in the United Kingdom consist of people of Iranian nationality who have settled in the United Kingdom, as well as British residents and citizens of Iranian heritage. Iranians in the United Kingdom are referred to by hyphenated terms such as British-Iranians, British-Persians, Iranian-Britons, or Persian-Britons.

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5 other outlets reported this story in the last 3 days.

Concerns over Iran drone attack prompted pulling bombers from UK base, sources sayABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos2 days ago
Latvians arrested inside RAF base released on bailAOL.co.ukUnited Kingdom2 days ago
RAF Fairford 'bomb' plot was carried out by 'low-level criminals being directed by Iran', cops believeThe SunUnited Kingdom27 hr. ago
Whelford Residents Report Living in Limbo Following Terrorism Arrests Near RAF Fairfordhttps://streamlinefeed.co.ke/Kenya3 days ago
Pair bailed after security breach at RAF baseAOL.caCanada2 days ago

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Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

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US bombers pulled from RAF Fairford base after suspected terror plot

About this story

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Background

RAF Fairford

Gloucestershire

Iranians in the United Kingdom

At a glance

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Who else is covering this

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Background

RAF Fairford

Gloucestershire

Iranians in the United Kingdom

Who else is covering this

How other outlets describe it