Two Latvian men arrested on suspicion of trespass at RAF base
Two Latvian men have been arrested under the National Security Act after a fence was breached at an RAF base in Cambridgeshire.
Two Latvian men have been arrested under the National Security Act after a fence was breached at an RAF base in Cambridgeshire.
The alert was raised when a Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) security patrol at RAF Molesworth identified an abandoned vehicle at about 22:00 BST on Wednesday.
The alert was raised when a Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) security patrol at RAF Molesworth identified an abandoned vehicle at about 22:00 BST on Wednesday.
After searches by the MDP and Cambridgeshire Constabulary, a small breach of a perimeter fence was identified a few hours later.
After searches by the MDP and Cambridgeshire Constabulary, a small breach of a perimeter fence was identified a few hours later.
The two men, who the Met Police said lived in the UK and were aged 36 and 32, were arrested inside the base perimeter.
The two men, who the Met Police said lived in the UK and were aged 36 and 32, were arrested inside the base perimeter.
They were initially arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage and taken to a Cambridgeshire police station.
They were initially arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage and taken to a Cambridgeshire police station.
The pair have since been further arrested on suspicion of an offence under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 – namely entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
The pair have since been further arrested on suspicion of an offence under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 – namely entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
section 4 of the National Security Act 2023Counter-terror police are investigating, and they are not currently linking it to the high-profile incident at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, but are understood to be keeping an open mind.
Counter-terror police are investigating, and they are not currently linking it to the high-profile incident at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, but are understood to be keeping an open mind.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, 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."
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, 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."
RAF Molesworth is home to the US's intelligence operations centres for Europe and Africa, as well as a Nato intelligence hub, according to the Central Intelligence Agency's website.
RAF Molesworth is home to the US's intelligence operations centres for Europe and Africa, as well as a Nato intelligence hub, according to the Central Intelligence Agency's website.
It is located west of Huntingdon, close to the border with Northamptonshire.
It is located west of Huntingdon, close to the border with Northamptonshire.
Officers said they were carrying out two searches at addresses in the Peterborough area in connection with the investigation, which Flanagan said was in the "very early stages".
Officers said they were carrying out two searches at addresses in the Peterborough area in connection with the investigation, which Flanagan said was in the "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," she said.
"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," she said.
"As ever, I would ask the public to remain vigilant and if you see anything of concern, then to contact police."
"As ever, I would ask the public to remain vigilant and if you see anything of concern, then to contact police."