Drone activity over US base in Britain prompts security response, US military says

LONDON — Unauthorized drone activity has triggered a security intervention at a U.S. base in Britain, the U.S. military said Friday.

Security forces at Royal Air Force Base Lakenheath in eastern England responded to suspected unauthorized drone activity, but no personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected, U.S. Air Force Europe said in a statement.

“We continue to work closely with our host nation counterparts to ensure the safety and security of our U.S. service members, U.S. and host nation civilians, contractors, and all of our families,” the statement said.

The drone incident means three US bases in the UK have been hit by threats in recent weeks. Friday’s security response at RAF Lakenheath comes just days after the United States moved more than a dozen planes from another base a few miles away in eastern England — RAF Mildenhall — due to a threat.

During the exodus of aircraft, RAF Mildenhall also raised its alert level to FPCON Charlie – the second highest level, used when an incident occurs or when intelligence is received indicating that some form of terrorist action targeting personnel or installations is likely.

A U.S. official said at the time that the decision to move the plane was proactive rather than reactive.

Several weeks ago, a group of men were arrested after three suspicious vans were spotted heading towards RAF Fairford, around 150 miles west of Mildenhall and Lakenheath. British authorities linked the plot to Iran, and the United States withdrew its bombers stationed there.

The UK-owned base was used by US bombers during decades of conflicts in the Middle East, including the Iran War. Further arrests followed and at least three men were charged with plotting to attack RAF Fairford.

Also this week, a U.S. Army officer assigned to a NATO unit at a military base near Gloucester, England, was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. Police said the arrest was not linked to other counter-terrorism investigations, indicating it has no links to the alleged Iran-linked terror plot at RAF Fairford, also near Gloucester.