Two Latvian Men Arrested Inside U.K. Military Base Housing NATO Operations

British authorities arrested two Latvian men early Thursday after they were discovered inside the perimeter of RAF Molesworth, a military base 112 kilometres north of London. The facility is operated by the U.S. Air Force and houses the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre alongside intelligence personnel from the U.S. Africa Command. Ministry of Defence Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary started investigating the site at about 10 p.m. Wednesday after officers found an abandoned vehicle near the edge of the base.

Arrest Details

Officers discovered a small hole in the perimeter fence, and the two suspects, who are both U.K. residents, were arrested at about 2 a.m. Thursday. The men, ages 32 and 36, were initially taken into custody on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage. They were later arrested on charges of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the U.K. Counterterrorism police are handling the investigation due to the nature of the offense. Cmdr Helen Flanagan, head of the counterterrorism unit, stated that the inquiry is at an early stage and officers are keeping an open mind about the motivation.

Wider Security Concerns

The breach at RAF Molesworth is the third security incident to affect the British military community in the past month. Defense and intelligence officials have warned that the United Kingdom faces potential hybrid attacks by people working for foreign powers. On September 27, authorities found three suspicious vans near RAF Fairford, leading to seven arrests and the withdrawal of U.S. bombers from the base. On Thursday, a serving member of the Royal Navy appeared in court for allegedly trying to send sensitive information to Russia. Police currently have no evidence linking the Molesworth incident to the Fairford case.

Context

RAF Molesworth has a long military history dating back to its founding in 1917, and today plays a key role in allied intelligence operations. Military installations housing foreign or international defense personnel maintain strict security perimeters and physical barriers. Incidents involving unauthorized perimeter breaches at such sensitive sites routinely trigger counterterrorism investigations to assess potential foreign interference.