Two Latvian men arrested over RAF Molesworth incident; counter-terrorism police investigate

Two Latvian men were arrested at about 2am on Thursday 8 October 2026 in connection with RAF Molesworth, a Royal Air Force base in Cambridgeshire. British counter-terrorism police are investigating.

The men are aged 32 and 36. Both are Latvian nationals who live in the UK. They were arrested on suspicion of trespass, criminal damage and entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. The Guardian reported that they were further arrested under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023.

Before the arrests, an abandoned vehicle was found near the base. A small hole was also found in the perimeter fence. France 24 quoted police as calling it a "small breach".

RAF Molesworth hosts US and NATO intelligence operations, including NATO's Intelligence Fusion Centre. It is managed by the US Air Force.

According to The Guardian, military police found the vehicle about four hours before the arrests. France 24 said a security patrol spotted it. The Guardian reported that initial searches led officers to call in explosives specialists. Nothing concerning was understood to have been found. A brief precautionary cordon on part of the A1 and around the village of Glatton has been lifted, the newspaper said. It also reported that police were searching two addresses in the Peterborough area and that both men remained in custody on Thursday.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not say why the men were at the base, whether the vehicle is linked to them, or whether they have been charged.

Police said there was nothing at this stage to suggest a link to an earlier incident near RAF Fairford, which France 24 dated to 27 September. That investigation involved three white vans seen near the base. The US later withdrew B-1 bombers from Fairford. Men arrested over Fairford, including a dual UK-Iranian national, have been released on bail.

What is disputed

• The Guardian says the men were arrested inside the perimeter. SCMP and Reuters say they were arrested near the base. France 24 says both: its opening says near the base, while later it says inside it.
• France 24 says seven men were arrested over Fairford. The Guardian reports five, then a sixth, and a seventh held on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, without stating explicitly whether his arrest is linked to Fairford.

What each side says

"Our investigation into this incident 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," Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing London, said, according to The Guardian.

Investigators said it was unclear whether there was a hostile state link, whether the men were criminals, or whether they ended up on the site in a misjudged state of late-night exuberance, The Guardian reported.

Chief of defence staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton expressed "confidence around the safety and security of our bases", according to The Guardian.

All four outlets reporting the arrests cite police statements, but The Guardian carries substantially more detail than the others, including the timeline, the explosives checks and the A1 cordon.

Analysis

The case comes days after the Fairford incident and the US withdrawal of bombers, which may increase scrutiny of security at UK bases used by allies. Police say nothing so far links the two cases, and investigators describe several possible explanations, ranging from a hostile state link to a misjudged late-night act. The outcome of the address searches and any charging decision could clarify which applies. If no link emerges, the case may be treated as a perimeter-security matter. If one does, it could add to debate on state-directed threats, which the Metropolitan Police commissioner has said are increasing.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.