Conflict & Security
RAF Molesworth: Two Latvians held after base breach
Two Latvian men were arrested inside RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire after the military base’s perimeter fence was breached, UK counter-terrorism police said Thursday.
Police said the men, aged 36 and 32, are Latvian nationals residing in the UK. They are being held on suspicion of trespass and of entering a prohibited place “for a purpose prejudicial to the UK”.
A security patrol spotted an abandoned vehicle near the base, and police found a small breach before arresting the men in the early hours of Thursday, police said.
RAF Molesworth is a non-flying facility managed by the US Air Force. It hosts the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre and US intelligence operations in Europe and Africa.
Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing, said there was nothing at this stage to suggest the incident was connected to a September 27 incident at RAF Fairford, where seven men were arrested and later released on bail. She said authorities were keeping an open mind.
The United States withdrew B-1 bombers stationed at RAF Fairford following that earlier incident.
Update
The arrested men are aged 36 and 32 and are Latvian nationals residing in the UK.
Police said they are being held on suspicion of trespass and of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
Police said a security patrol spotted an abandoned vehicle near the base and officers found a small breach before the arrests.
RAF Molesworth is a non-flying facility managed by the US Air Force and hosts NATO and US intelligence operations.
Police said there was nothing at this stage to suggest a connection to the RAF Fairford incident, while keeping an open mind.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 October 2026 at 16:09:42 UTC.
Update
The arrests took place at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, southeast England.
Police said the two Latvian men were aged 36 and 32.
RAF Molesworth hosts a NATO intelligence centre.
Police said the arrests followed a breach of the perimeter fence.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 October 2026 at 15:19:58 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The nature of the alleged threat or purpose at RAF Molesworth has not been established.
Authorities have not ruled out a connection to the RAF Fairford incident, but police said there was nothing at this stage to suggest one.
Source
AFP news report published on .