British counter-terrorism police are investigating after two Latvian men were arrested inside RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire in the early hours of Thursday, October 8, 2026 — a base that houses US intelligence operations centres and NATO's Intelligence Fusion Centre. The men, aged 32 and 36, were initially detained on suspicion of trespassing on a prohibited site and criminal damage before being re-arrested under the National Security Act 2023.

The arrests began with a routine security patrol. Ministry of Defence Police officers discovered an abandoned vehicle at RAF Molesworth, about 100 km (62 miles) north of London, and raised the alarm. Subsequent checks uncovered a small breach in the perimeter fence, and the two men were found inside the base and arrested, Reuters reported.

Table of Contents

  1. How the Intrusion Was Discovered
  2. A Base at the Heart of Western Intelligence
  3. Police: No Link to Fairford Plot So Far
  4. The National Security Act Charges
  5. Rising Pressure on Britain's Military Bases
  6. Key Takeaways
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. Sources
  9. Read Next on Chronicle

How the Intrusion Was Discovered

Security spotted the abandoned vehicle near the perimeter of the base on Wednesday night, leading to a search of the site. Cambridgeshire Police and Ministry of Defence Police found a "small breach" of the perimeter fence, and the two men — both Latvian nationals currently resident in the UK — were arrested inside the base perimeter in the early hours of Thursday.

The abandoned vehicle was recovered and examined by specialist explosive ordnance disposal officers, but nothing of concern was found. Police are also carrying out searches at two addresses in the Peterborough area in connection with the investigation.

A Base at the Heart of Western Intelligence

RAF Molesworth is no ordinary airfield. US troops are stationed at the base, which houses America's intelligence operations centres for Europe (EUCOM) and Africa (AFRICOM), and is home to NATO's Intelligence Fusion Centre (NIFC) — the unit that provides the alliance with intelligence to support the planning and execution of NATO operations, according to The Times.

The US and NATO centres operate alongside each other on separate compounds, and many Americans are believed to live in the local area. No aircraft are launched or stored at the base. In 2024, the US Defence Intelligence Agency said it had broken ground on a £421 million facility at the site, underlining its growing role in Western intelligence infrastructure. A source told The Times that security at the base had been stepped up and vigilance heightened in recent days.

Police: No Link to Fairford Plot So Far

The incident comes just days after a suspected plot to attack RAF Fairford, about 145 km west of London, where several men were arrested over an alleged attack on the base used by US military bombers. The government has linked that suspected plot to Iran, which has denied any involvement.

"We're very aware of the recent heightened interest and concern around military sites, but at this stage there is nothing to suggest this incident is connected to the events at RAF Fairford last week," Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said in a statement on Thursday.

Flanagan stressed that the investigation is at its very early stages. "A big part of this is looking at any potential motivation as to why the men were present at the site, but I must stress we are keeping an open mind at this stage and inquiries are very much ongoing."

The National Security Act Charges

The men were initially arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage and taken to a Cambridgeshire police station. They have since been further arrested on suspicion of an offence under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 — namely entering a prohibited place "for a purpose prejudicial to the UK."

Both men remained in police custody on Thursday, with counter-terrorism police leading the investigation.

Rising Pressure on Britain's Military Bases

The Molesworth arrests mark the second time in a matter of weeks that men have been apprehended wandering near or inside a UK military base in the middle of the night, according to The Wall Street Journal. Last month, five men were detained in the woods near RAF Fairford after driving up from London in vans that contained barrels of fuel; they were released on bail.

US officials believe Iran was planning a major assault on RAF Fairford, including firing drones at B-1 bombers located there. Amid ongoing US concerns about security, all the bombers were abruptly flown out of the base last weekend. The US said on Monday that a threat linked to Iran had prompted the removal of its bombers from Fairford.

Britain has seen a series of security cases in recent months, including the espionage arrest of a former German spy chief and the charging of a Royal Navy sailor in an espionage case — a reminder of how intelligence and national security cases are increasingly spilling into public view.

Key Takeaways

  • Two Latvian men, aged 32 and 36, were arrested inside RAF Molesworth in the early hours of Thursday after MoD Police found an abandoned vehicle and a small breach in the perimeter fence.
  • The base hosts US intelligence centres for Europe and Africa and NATO's Intelligence Fusion Centre, making it one of the most sensitive military sites in Britain.
  • The men were re-arrested under the National Security Act 2023 on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
  • Counter-terrorism police say there is so far nothing to suggest a link to the suspected Iran-linked plot at RAF Fairford last week.
  • The case marks the second intrusion-related incident at a UK military base in weeks, intensifying pressure over base security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is RAF Molesworth?

RAF Molesworth is a military base in Cambridgeshire, about 100 km north of London. It houses US intelligence operations centres for Europe and Africa and NATO's Intelligence Fusion Centre, which coordinates intelligence supporting NATO operations.

Who are the two men arrested?

Two Latvian men, aged 32 and 36, both currently resident in the UK. They were arrested inside the base perimeter in the early hours of Thursday, October 8, 2026, and remain in police custody.

What are they charged with?

They were initially arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage, then re-arrested under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.

Is this connected to the RAF Fairford plot?

Police say there is so far nothing to suggest the incident is connected to the suspected plot at RAF Fairford, where several men were arrested last week over an alleged attack the government has linked to Iran.

Sources

Read Next on Chronicle