'There were some threats': Trump on what forced US to move B-1 bombers back from UK air base

US President Donald Trump has said that "some threats" prompted the United States to move its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain, amid growing security concerns surrounding the military base.

The Pentagon confirmed that all US bombers deployed at RAF Fairford had been redeployed to their home stations in the United States. The aircraft had been stationed at the Gloucestershire airbase, which has been an important base for US bomber operations in Europe.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said the aircraft had not left the base by chance and that Washington had received information about a possible threat.

"There were some threats," Trump said, adding that the US decided to move the bombers rather than leave them exposed. He also claimed that authorities knew who had made the threat and suggested that those behind it were linked to Iran.

The withdrawal comes days after a suspected terror-related incident near RAF Fairford. Five British men were arrested near the base on September 27 on suspicion of terrorism and explosives-related offences. A British-Iranian national was also later arrested in London in connection with the investigation. All six have since been released on bail while inquiries continue.

British counter-terrorism investigators said no explosives were found in the vehicles linked to the suspects, although police recovered a quantity of petrol. Authorities are continuing to investigate whether the incident was connected to a foreign state or a wider terror plot.

Trump's comments came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio played down a direct connection between the arrests and the bomber withdrawal, describing the movement of military assets as part of regular rotations and broader operational requirements.

US Vice President JD Vance, however, said the decision was taken "out of an abundance of caution" to protect American personnel. US officials have indicated that additional threat information had emerged shortly before the bombers were withdrawn.

UK authorities have maintained that RAF Fairford remains safe. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there had been no change in the UK's position regarding the security of the base and pointed to established measures for protecting military installations.

Burnham had earlier said there were "strong indications" that Iran may have played a role in the earlier incident. Tehran has rejected the allegations and denied any involvement.

RAF Fairford has become particularly significant for US military operations involving Iran. The base is capable of accommodating long-range bombers such as the B-1 and B-52 and has been used for US operations in the region. The redeployment of the aircraft therefore highlights the heightened security concerns surrounding American military assets in Europe.