THOUSANDS of American servicemen based in Britain have been banned from visiting London because of the terrorist alert.

US military chiefs commanding 12,000 members of the US Air Force issued a “battle staff directive” last Friday, the day after the London bombings.

US military personnel at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk — home of America’s F15 Strike Eagle bombers and KC135 refuelling tankers — were told that London was out of bounds.

Cindy Dorfner, a spokeswoman at RAF Mildenhall, said: “The order was made in a battle staff directive from our wing commander. Military members are not allowed to go to London until further notice. They are not being allowed to go anywhere inside the M25.”

Captain Jason McCree, a spokesman at RAF Lakenheath, said: “We are taking prudent measures to ensure the security and safety of our airmen, civilians, their families and our resources.” Captain McCree said that military personnel were still being allowed to drive around the M25 to reach Heathrow or Gatwick.

A villager living near RAF Lakenheath said: “This is a typical overreaction by the Americans and sends out completely the wrong message.”

Last night there appeared to be some confusion among US servicemen as to who had issued the directive, with some claiming that it had come from Britain. In the Globe Bar, Mildenhall, a member of the US Air Force, said: “It’s not because we’re scared. Emergency services need time and space to get work done. If people don’t need to go in they shouldn’t.”

The British Ministry of Defence insisted that it had not issued any advice against travel to the capital. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Greater London Authority called for people to return to London. “The mayor sent out a message when he got on the Tube today. People are getting back into London to work and visit.”

US personnel insisted that they were still standing shoulder to shoulder with their British allies in other ways. “We got out on Sunday and helped to boost security for local VE- Day celebrations,” the US Air Forceman in Mildenhall said.

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