Two Latvian men arrested on suspicion of trespass at RAF Molesworth

Mixed · 2Two men have been arrested on suspicion of trespassing at an RAF base in Cambridgeshire, RAF Molesworth. 1 2 Mixed · 2Police say the suspects are Latvian nationals aged 36 and 32, both of whom live in the UK. 1 3 Left · 1The Guardian reports the men as aged 32 and 36 in its text, though its standfirst says 32 and 35; other outlets give 36 and 32. 4

Mixed · 2Ministry of Defence Police patrols spotted an abandoned vehicle near the perimeter, and a small breach was found in the perimeter fence. The Express says this was at about 22:00 on Wednesday 7 October. 3 2 Mixed · 2The men were found inside the perimeter at around 2am on Thursday 8 October, and Cambridgeshire Constabulary officers also attended and searched around the site. 2 3 Right · 1According to the Express, they were first arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage, then further arrested on suspicion of an offence under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Both remain in custody. 2

Right · 1Police also searched two addresses in the Peterborough area. The abandoned vehicle was taken to a police location, where explosive ordnance disposal officers were deployed and a precautionary cordon affected roads around Glatton, including part of the A1. Specialists found nothing of concern and the cordons have been lifted. 2 Mixed · 2Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which leads the investigation, said there was nothing at this stage to suggest a connection to events at RAF Fairford last week. She said the investigation was at a very early stage, that police were examining motivation and keeping an open mind, and she asked the public to stay vigilant. 3 2 Mixed · 2RAF Molesworth is used by the US military and Nato for intelligence work; the Guardian says it hosts Nato's Intelligence Fusion Centre and the US Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Europe. 4 5

Right · 3The arrests came days after an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The Washington Examiner reports that five men were arrested there after a farmer reported three suspicious vans, that only petrol was found, and that the five were bailed, prompting criticism. Reuters says the government has linked a suspected plot there to Iran, and the Guardian reports the US withdrew B-1 bombers from Fairford amid concerns about a possible Iran-directed attack. 6 7 4 Right · 1The men's motive is unestablished; the Washington Examiner calls the treatment of the men a reflection of heightened UK alert after Fairford, while police say they are keeping an open mind. 6