Get you up to speed: Two men arrested for ‘entering’ UK RAF base Molesworth | News UK
Two Latvian nationals were arrested at around 2am on October 8 at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. They remain in custody following an investigation initiated after a security breach was discovered during a patrol by officers from the Ministry of Defence Police.
The two men remain in custody following their arrest under suspicion of an offence related to the National Security Act 2023. The investigation, led by Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London, is in its early stages, with authorities exploring potential motivations for the men’s presence at the RAF base.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, stated that the investigation is in early stages and urged the public to remain vigilant. The two Latvian nationals remain in custody pending further enquiries regarding their presence at RAF Molesworth.
What remains unclear — The investigation is ongoing and the potential motivations behind the two men’s presence at the RAF base have yet to be determined.
Two Latvian nationals arrested for entering RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire
Two men have been arrested at an RAF base in Cambridgeshire.
Officers from the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) carrying out security patrols near the perimeter of RAF Molesworth at around 10pm on October 7.
Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary also attended the scene and carried out further searches, which led to the discovery of a small breach in the perimeter fence.
At around 2am on October 8, two Latvian nationals – aged 36 and 32 and both living in the UK – were arrested on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
They were initially arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage and taken to a Cambridgeshire police station.
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They have now been further arrested on suspicion of an offence under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023. They remain in custody.
The base plays host to the US intelligence operations centres for Europe and Africa and is also a Nato intelligence hub.
It comes after an incident at RAF Fairford on September 27 resulted in numerous arrests.
Residents were evacuated from about 85 homes and allowed to return the following day.
The incident remains under investigation.
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.
‘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.
‘As ever, I would ask the public to remain vigilant and if you see anything of concern, then to contact police.’