How did Mildenhall become crucial to the US Air Force?

Local politicians have called for a greater level of transparency after reports of a threat against RAF Mildenhall.

Ian Shipp, a Mildenhall town councillor, said: “I’ve had a number of people contact me this morning, they are concerned,” he said.

“They’d like to know what’s happening, there’s a lot of speculation – there’s a lot of rumours going around on social media.

“I think they just need caution and we need a bit of clear advice and guidance as to what’s happening.

“The security of the community is paramount.”

Nick Timothy, MP for West Suffolk, said “information is very tight at the moment” but he believed, based on reports he had seen, that there was no wider threat to the community.

“We know that the base has been operating at the highest threat level for a while.

“We know that Iran and Russia are targeting infrastructure of different kinds in Britain, including British and American military sites.”

He urged people to “stay vigilant” and report anything suspicious to authorities.

However, he also encouraged the MOD and US Air Force “to communicate as freely as possible” within any national security constraints.

Roger Smith, a military aviation analyst from Lowestoft in Suffolk, has been tracking planes at the base.

He said “it appears that everything that is flyable is gone”.

He told BBC Suffolk that removals from the site began on Monday “in some hurry” and continued leaving throughout the day.

Speaking about RAF Mildenhall, he said: “It looks as if it’s pretty much bare.

“Everyone was mystified why they are suddenly deploying aircraft away from the base and why nothing seems to be happening at Lakenheath,” he said.