On Thursday, October 8, 2026, UK police arrested two Latvian men, aged 36 and 32, at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Molesworth base in Cambridgeshire, southeast England. The base houses US and NATO intelligence hubs, including the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre and Washington's intelligence operations in Europe and Africa. According to police, the men were arrested on suspicion of trespass and entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
The incident occurred after a security patrol spotted an abandoned vehicle near the base, and police found a small breach in the perimeter fence. The men, who are Latvian nationals residing in the UK, were arrested in the early hours of Thursday. This incident comes days after a major incident at RAF Fairford in southwest England, where seven men were arrested on September 27 and later released on bail.
RAF Molesworth, formerly a World War II airbase, is now a non-flying facility managed by the US Air Force. The base hosts the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre, which has a workforce of more than 200, and Washington's intelligence operations in Europe and Africa. The centre plays a critical role in supporting NATO's military operations and strategic decision-making.
The arrests at RAF Molesworth were made by counter-terrorism police, who are investigating the incident. According to Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing, there is currently no evidence to suggest that this incident is connected to the events at RAF Fairford last week. However, the authorities are keeping an open mind and are thoroughly investigating the incident.
The incident at RAF Fairford led to the withdrawal of US B-1 bombers stationed at the base. The nature of the threat at RAF Fairford is still not clear, but police were called to the site after three white vans were spotted acting suspiciously in its vicinity. The incident highlights the importance of maintaining robust security measures at military bases housing sensitive intelligence operations.
This is not the first time that a UK military base has been breached by activists or individuals. In June, pro-Palestinian activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in southern England, posting video showing them spraying a plane with red paint. The incident at RAF Molesworth raises concerns about the security of UK military bases and the potential risks of breaches or unauthorized access.
The investigation into the incident at RAF Molesworth is ongoing, and the two arrested men are being held on suspicion of trespass and entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. The authorities are working to determine the motivations behind the breach and to assess the potential impact on national security.
Key points
- Two Latvian men were arrested at RAF Molesworth base in southeast England for breaching the perimeter fence and entering a prohibited place.
- The base houses US and NATO intelligence hubs, including the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre and Washington's intelligence operations in Europe and Africa.
- The incident is being investigated by counter-terrorism police, who are keeping an open mind about potential connections to a similar incident at RAF Fairford last week.
