Two Latvian men arrested for breaking into RAF Molesworth amid Russia probe

Two Latvian nationals were arrested after breaching the perimeter fence at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire. Police are investigating a possible Russia connection.

Two Latvian nationals detained at RAF Molesworth as police probe Russia link

Two Latvian men were arrested after breaching the perimeter fence at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, the Daily Express reports, with police now investigating whether Russia had any involvement in the incident.

The base serves as a hub for American intelligence operations across Europe and Africa, and functions as a NATO intelligence centre. Notably, a NATO conference on Russia had been held at the site on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the same week as the breach.

At around 10pm on Wednesday, Ministry of Defence security patrols discovered an abandoned vehicle near the base's perimeter. Subsequent searches revealed a small hole in the fence. Two Latvian men, aged 36 and 32, both resident in the UK, were found inside the grounds and initially detained on suspicion of trespassing on a prohibited site and criminal damage.

Both men were later arrested on suspicion of an offence under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, which relates to entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom. Specialist explosive ordnance disposal officers were called to examine the abandoned vehicle for possible traces of explosives.

The arrest came just weeks after a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where five men were detained near the base last month. That earlier incident had raised concerns that a hostile state — potentially Iran — may be seeking to target sites used by US forces. Police confirmed the Molesworth breach is not being linked to the Fairford investigation, and the Fairford cordon was subsequently stood down after nothing suspicious was found.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: "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."

Flanagan added that investigators are at the early stages of their inquiry. "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," she said. Searches are being carried out at two addresses in the Peterborough area in connection with the investigation.

Source: Daily Express