Police have said nothing so far to suggest the incident at RAF Molesworth is linked to events surrounding RAF Fairford last month.
Published on October 8, 2026
Two Latvian men were arrested at a military base in southeast England that houses US and NATO intelligence centers after the perimeter fence was breached, police said.
The arrests come amid heightened concerns over security at UK military bases following another incident last month.
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Counter-terrorism police announced on Thursday that the two men, aged 36 and 32, were arrested at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Molesworth base in Cambridgeshire.
They are being detained on suspicion of trespassing and entering a prohibited place “with a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom”, police said.
A security patrol spotted an abandoned vehicle near the base Wednesday evening. Police discovered a “small breach” in the perimeter fence before locating and arresting the men early Thursday, they said.
The men were taken to a Cambridgeshire police station where they remain in custody. Both are Latvian nationals residing in the United Kingdom.
The arrests follow a major incident on September 27 at RAF Fairford in the west of England, which led to the arrest of seven men, all aged in their 20s, who have since been released on bail. One has dual British and Iranian nationality.
No connection with RAF Fairford
Due to the nature of the incident, British counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the security breach, police said.
“We are very aware of the recent increased interest and concern around military sites,” said Commander Helen Flanagan, head of London’s counter-terrorism police.
“But at this stage there is nothing to suggest that this incident is linked to the events at RAF Fairford,” she added.
Flanagan said the investigation at RAF Molesworth was in its early stages, but added inquiries would look into “any potential motivation as to why the men were present at the site”.
RAF Molesworth, a former World War II air base, is now a non-flying installation operated by the United States Air Force.
The American intelligence services have based their operational centers for Europe and Africa on the nearby Huntingdon base. It is also a NATO intelligence center, according to a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) website.
US military aircraft were abruptly removed from the RAF base at Fairford, Gloucestershire, on Sunday after three suspicious vehicles were seen near the base, prompting a major incident to be declared.
This base had been used by the American army to carry out strikes as part of its war against Iran.
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