Authorities in the United Kingdom have arrested two Latvian men on suspicion of trespassing and entering a prohibited military site. The suspects were taken into custody at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Molesworth base in southeastern England, which serves as a hub for US and NATO intelligence activities.
Counterterrorism officers made the arrests on Thursday morning around 2 a.m., following an investigation that began the previous evening. Police discovered an abandoned vehicle near the base’s perimeter and a small hole cut into the fence approximately 10 p.m. local time on Wednesday. The two men, identified as UK residents aged 36 and 32, were detained and charged with trespassing, criminal damage, and entering a prohibited place for purposes prejudicial to UK interests.
RAF Molesworth, originally established during World War II, is now a non-flying facility managed by the US Air Force. It hosts personnel from the US Africa Command and the NATO Intelligence Fusion Center, which supplies information to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
The incident has drawn attention due to its proximity to a separate investigation involving RAF Fairford. Earlier this month, authorities foiled an alleged terror plot after discovering suspicious vans near the Fairford base, leading to seven arrests. In response, the US Air Force recently redeployed its bombers from the site.
Despite the timing, officials stated there is no evidence linking the two cases. Commander Helen Flanagan, who heads the counterterrorism unit, noted that while authorities are increasingly focused on securing military installations, the Molesworth incident remains in its early investigative stages. The US European Command acknowledged the breach but declined to provide details regarding specific security measures. Both men remain in police custody as the investigation continues.
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