Two Latvian men have been arrested on suspicion of a national security offence after an alleged break-in at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, British counterterrorism police said on Thursday.
The men, aged 36 and 32 and both resident in the UK, were arrested in the early hours of Thursday after security spotted an abandoned vehicle near the base perimeter on Wednesday night. Cambridgeshire Police and Ministry of Defence Police found a small breach of the perimeter fence.
They were initially arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage, then further arrested on suspicion of an offence under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 — “entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.” Both men remain in police custody. Two homes in Peterborough are being searched in connection with the investigation, and the abandoned vehicle was examined by specialist explosives officers, who found nothing of concern.
RAF Molesworth hosts U.S. intelligence operations centres for Europe and Africa alongside NATO’s intelligence fusion centre, which provides the alliance with intelligence supporting the planning and execution of NATO operations.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, said: “We’re very aware of the recent heightened interest and concern around military sites, but at this stage there is nothing to suggest this incident is connected to the events at RAF Fairford last week.”
The arrests come days after seven men were bailed following arrests on suspicion of terror offences over a suspected bomb plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on September 27.
This is a developing story.
Sources: Reuters, The Times
