Two Latvian men arrested after security breach at RAF Molesworth airbase

Counterterrorism police arrested two Latvian nationals on Thursday after they breached the perimeter of RAF Molesworth, a UK airbase used by the United States and NATO.

The two men, aged 32 and 36, were discovered inside the perimeter of the Cambridgeshire base in the early hours of Thursday. Al Jazeera reported that security patrols first identified an abandoned vehicle near the site late Wednesday night, which led to the discovery of a small breach in the perimeter fence. Both men are Latvian nationals residing in the United Kingdom and are currently being held at a police station in Cambridgeshire.

The suspects are being held on suspicion of trespass and entering a prohibited place for a "purpose prejudicial to the UK." Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, stated that the investigation is in its early stages and will focus on the potential motivation for the men's presence at the site. The New York Times noted that the incident has raised significant concerns regarding security at the facility.

RAF Molesworth is a non-flying facility managed by the United States Air Force. According to Al Jazeera, the base serves as a NATO intelligence hub and houses U.S. operation centers for Europe and Africa. While police are leading a counterterrorism investigation due to the nature of the breach, Commander Flanagan said there is currently no evidence linking this event to a separate security incident at RAF Fairford last month.

Background

The breach follows an incident at RAF Fairford on September 27, where seven men were arrested after three suspicious vehicles were spotted nearby. That event led to a major incident declaration and the temporary flight of U.S. military planes out of the Gloucestershire base.