Two Latvian men have been detained under the National Security Act following a security breach at the RAF Molesworth base in Cambridgeshire. The incident began Wednesday at approximately 22:00 BST, when a Ministry of Defence Police patrol discovered an abandoned vehicle near the site perimeter. Subsequent searches by local police and defence authorities revealed that the base’s boundary fence had been compromised. A small breach of a perimeter fence was identified a few hours later, after searches by the MDP and Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Follow Cambridgeshire news on Sounds, Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external.
The two suspects, aged 32 and 36, who are reported to be UK residents, were located and arrested within the facility’s grounds. Initially held on suspicion of criminal damage and trespassing on a protected site, the pair now face further investigation under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, which covers entering a prohibited area for purposes deemed prejudicial to the interests of the United Kingdom.
Counter-terrorism investigators are currently overseeing the case. Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London stated that the investigation remains in its very early stages. Authorities are currently conducting searches at two residential properties in the Peterborough area. While officials are exploring potential motivations for the intrusion, they noted that there is currently no evidence linking this event to a separate high-profile security incident that occurred at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire last week.
Commander Flanagan emphasized that while officials are aware of heightened public concern regarding military installations, they are maintaining an open mind regarding the suspects’ intentions. She encouraged the public to continue reporting any suspicious activity to the police. 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. As ever, I would ask the public to remain vigilant and if you see anything of concern, then to contact police.
The abandoned vehicle found during the initial alert prompted the temporary closure of the A1M and surrounding roads in the Glatton area on Thursday afternoon. A bomb disposal unit examined the car, but police declared that nothing of concern was identified, allowing for the roads to be reopened shortly thereafter. The abandoned vehicle found near the perimeter of the base initially led to the partial closure of the A1M and several other roads in the Glatton area at about 13:00 BST on Thursday.
RAF Molesworth, situated near Huntingdon, serves as a significant military hub, hosting a Nato intelligence centre. In 2024, the US Defence Intelligence Agency commenced construction on a $556 million (£421 million) facility at the base, which is intended to operate as a primary hub for American military intelligence across Europe and Africa.
In response to the security breach, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated that the agency remains highly vigilant against threats. They noted that base protection strategies include a multi-layered approach involving physical barriers, surveillance, patrols, and counter-drone capabilities. Similarly, a representative from the US European Command acknowledged the support of UK agencies, while declining to discuss specific force protection measures or intelligence matters, stating only that they will continue to assess the security environment to safeguard personnel and assets. Our platforms, and the bases where our forces operate from, we will continue to assess the threat environment surrounding our installations and take appropriate actions to protect our people.
