Two men have been arrested under the National Security Act following a perimeter breach at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, police confirmed on 8 October.
The men, aged 36 and 32, are Latvian nationals living in the UK. Officers found them inside the base at approximately 2am on Thursday.
Security patrol raised the alarm
Ministry of Defence Police discovered an abandoned vehicle near the perimeter at about 10pm on Wednesday 7 October. Searches with Cambridgeshire Constabulary subsequently identified a small fence breach.
The initial arrests concerned suspected trespass and criminal damage. Further arrests were made on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK, under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023.
Intelligence installation
Associated Press reports that Molesworth houses US and NATO intelligence operations, including the NATO Intelligence Fusion Center and US Africa Command intelligence personnel.
That background explains the installation’s significance. It does not establish why the suspects were there or that intelligence material was accessed.
Investigation continues
Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading enquiries. Commander Helen Flanagan said officers were keeping an open mind about motivation and had found nothing suggesting a connection to RAF Fairford.
The confirmed development is an arrest on suspicion, rather than a criminal conviction. The police statement does not announce charges or establish espionage, terrorism or foreign-state direction. Nationality alone provides no basis for drawing those conclusions.