Two Latvian men have been arrested on suspicion of entering an RAF base in Cambridgeshire for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
The men, aged 36 and 32, were detained inside the perimeter of RAF Molesworth in the early hours of Thursday, October 8, after security patrols discovered an abandoned vehicle near the base.
The United States uses the base extensively and hosts the Joint Intelligence Operations Centre Europe Analytic Centre.
Units of the US Air Force’s 423rd Air Base Group are also stationed at RAF Molesworth.
Both men, residents in the UK, remain in police custody.
Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation, with officers searching two Peterborough addresses.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said there was currently no evidence linking the incident to events at RAF Fairford last week.
“Our investigation into this incident is at its very early stages. A big part of this is looking at any potential motivation as to why the men were present at the site, but I must stress we are keeping an open mind at this stage and enquiries are very much ongoing,” she said.
Two Latvian migrants arrested for trespassing at US-run RAF base |
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Security patrols located and arrested the pair at around 2am on Thursday, intially detaining them on suspicion of trespass at a prohibited site and criminal damage.
They were then arrested under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, which concerns entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
Police recovered the abandoned vehicle and took it to a nearby police station for further examination. Concerns prompted the deployment of specialist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officers.
Precautionary cordons were then set up, affecting local roads in the Glatton area, including part of the A1.
Counter Terrorism Police said there was currently no evidence linking the incident to events at RAF Fairford
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Police arrest British-Iranian on suspicion of terror offence following RAF Fairford incident
However, specialist officers found nothing of concern and all cordons have since been lifted.
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