Two Latvian nationals arrested after intrusion at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire

British police have arrested two Latvian citizens aged 32 and 36 after they entered RAF Molesworth, a Royal Air Force base in Cambridgeshire, Russian outlets reported on 8 and 9 October, citing police and Sky News. Both men live in Britain. Kommersant, Meduza and Interfax reported that counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]

Interfax reported that the men were initially arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site and causing criminal damage, and were later additionally charged under section 4 of the National Security Act with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the interests of the United Kingdom. Kommersant and Meduza reported the same charge. According to Interfax, both men remain in custody and are being questioned by detectives. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]

Accounts of the discovery differ. Meduza, citing Sky News, reported that county police found an abandoned car at about 22:00 on 7 October and soon afterwards a small breach in the base's fence, and that the suspects were found and detained during the night to 8 October. Kommersant said Ministry of Defence police discovered the intrusion on the morning of 8 October, finding a minibus left by the fence and then the men during a search, and made the initial arrest. Interfax said a military police patrol found the vehicle and then noticed the breach. TASS reported that the men got onto the site on the night of 8 October by making a breach in the fence. Interfax added that bomb disposal specialists were called to carry out checks on the vehicle before it was taken away for detailed examination. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]

Interfax reported that the base houses a US armed forces intelligence centre responsible for operations in Europe and Africa, as well as NATO's intelligence headquarters in the UK. A spokesperson for US European Command said: "While we assess the overall security situation, US forces maintain the highest level of combat readiness," and thanked Britain for its close security partnership. Helen Flanagan, head of London's counter-terrorism unit, said police understand that interest in and concern about military sites has grown recently. [ 5 ]

Meduza quoted a police representative as saying there is at this stage no reason to believe the incident is connected to last week's events at RAF Fairford. Meduza recalled that on 27 September British authorities announced the detention near that base of five people who arrived in three white vans and are suspected of preparing a terrorist attack; all were released on bail. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said investigators had grounds to believe Iran was involved, Meduza reported, and the US then withdrew from the base all B-1 bombers intended for strikes on Iran. [ 3 ]