British counterterrorism police arrested two Latvian men after they broke into RAF Molesworth, a UK airbase used by US personnel. The incident, involving a perimeter breach, occurred weeks after a separate suspected plot at another US-used base raised security concerns, though police currently see no direct link.
British counterterrorism police are investigating the arrest of two Latvian men, aged 32 and 36, who were discovered inside Royal Air Force (RAF) Molesworth, an airbase in eastern England used by US personnel. The arrests, made on Thursday, followed the discovery of an abandoned vehicle during a security patrol, which led to the identification of a small breach in the perimeter fence and the subsequent apprehension of the men within the base. Initially arrested for trespassing and criminal damage, they were later re-arrested under the National Security Act 2023 on suspicion of “entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.” RAF Molesworth, located about 100 km north of London, hosts intelligence analysis, command operations, and a NATO intelligence center, but is not used for flying. The incident comes weeks after a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, another British airbase used by the US military, raised significant concerns about security at military sites across Britain. That plot, which the British government linked to Iran (a claim Iran denied), prompted the US to remove its bombers from Fairford. Despite the heightened security concerns, Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, stated that there is currently nothing to suggest a connection between the Molesworth incident and the events at RAF Fairford. Police confirmed both men reside in Britain and are searching two addresses near Peterborough. Bomb disposal officers checked the abandoned vehicle at Molesworth but found nothing concerning. UK defense minister Wes Streeting and a US Air Force spokesperson both emphasized vigilance and close coordination in ensuring the safety and security of military sites and local communities.
