Donald Trump says a 'threat' led US to move bombers from RAF Fairford

Trump: US "had a threat" that led to withdrawal of bombers at RAF Fairford

President Donald Trump has said the US moved its bombers out of RAF Fairford because of "some threats" to the base.

Speaking to reporters as he departed for Nebraska on Monday, Trump said the US had known of a "threat", which led them to move the bombers.

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Trump's comments appear to confirm reports by US media that a new threat led to the bombers being removed after a major incident on 27 September when police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase.

Trump replied: "Yeah I think we can say that. They didn't fly out by accident.

He added Washington "actually knows the people that made the threat", but he did not confirm who.

One source close to the White House pointed to Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb - a covert drone attack on five Russian bases in June last year - as an example of what an enemy force could do, even at a distance.

Trump's comments, and those of Vance before him, stand in stark contrast to those of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

RAF Fairford - in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire - has been at the centre of an incident being investigated by counter-terror police.

Following the release of the first five men, Trump criticised the decision and US officials suggested Iran could have been involved in the incident.