Two men arrested after breaking into UK airbase used by US, counter-terrorism police say

Key Points:

• British counter-terrorism police arrested two Latvian men inside RAF Molesworth, a Royal Air Force base used by US personnel, after discovering an abandoned vehicle and a small breach in the perimeter fence.
• The men, aged 32 and 36, were initially suspected of trespassing and criminal damage, 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 hosts intelligence analysis, command operations, and a NATO intelligence centre but is not used for flying operations; the arrests follow a recent suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, another US-used British airbase.
• Authorities stated there is currently no evidence linking the RAF Molesworth incident to the suspected plot against RAF Fairford, which has been associated with Iran, though security concerns at UK military sites remain high.
• UK Defence Minister Wes Streeting and US Air Force officials emphasized vigilance and close cooperation between UK and US authorities to maintain the security of military sites and local communities.