Police investigate after two men arrested on suspicion of breaching RAF Molesworth fence in Cambridgeshire

Key Points

• Two Latvian nationals, aged 36 and 32, have been arrested after being found inside the perimeter of RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire.
• The two men are understood to live in the UK.
• Ministry of Defence Police security patrols found an abandoned vehicle near the military site at about 10pm on Wednesday, 7 October.
• Further searches by Ministry of Defence Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary uncovered a small breach in the perimeter fence.
• Officers found the two men inside the base and arrested them at about 2am on Thursday, 8 October.
• They were initially arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a prohibited site and criminal damage.
• They were later arrested under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
• Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation.
• Commander Helen Flanagan said there was currently nothing to suggest the incident was linked to recent events at RAF Fairford.
• Police said the investigation was at an early stage and officers were examining why the men were at the site.
• Two addresses in the Peterborough area are being searched as part of the investigation.
• Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers examined the abandoned vehicle after concerns were raised about it.
• A precautionary cordon was placed around local roads near Glatton and part of the A1, but it was later lifted after officers found nothing of concern.
• RAF Molesworth houses NATO’s Intelligence Fusion Centre and US military intelligence operations.
• Both men remained in police custody as the investigation continued.

Cambridgeshire (Cambridge Tribune) October 8, 2026 — Two Latvian men have been arrested after being found inside the perimeter of the military base following the discovery of a breach in its perimeter fence, with the incident now being investigated by Counter Terrorism Policing.

The two men, aged 36 and 32, are Latvian nationals who currently reside in the UK. They were found inside RAF Molesworth at about 2am on Thursday after security personnel and police began searching the area following the discovery of an abandoned vehicle near the base.

The Independent, in a report by Rich Amofa and Georgia Bates, said the men were arrested after officers discovered a small breach in the perimeter fence. The newspaper reported that the pair were initially detained on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage before being further arrested under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023.

The Guardian’s defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh also reported that the investigation began about four hours before the arrests, when military police found an abandoned vehicle outside the facility. Officers subsequently discovered a small hole in the perimeter fence before locating the two men inside the base.

The arrests have brought Counter Terrorism Policing into the investigation because of the nature of the site and the circumstances in which the men were found.

Why are the two men being investigated under the National Security Act?

The men were initially arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and causing criminal damage. Police subsequently made further arrests under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023.

Section 4 creates an offence involving entering, accessing, inspecting, approaching or being in the vicinity of a prohibited place where the conduct is for a purpose that the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, is prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.

The legislation also covers the inspection of a prohibited place through photographs, videos or other recordings. A person convicted of an offence under section 4 can face imprisonment for up to 14 years, a fine, or both.

However, the fact that the men have been arrested under the legislation does not establish that they committed the offence. The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not publicly established why the men entered the site or what they intended to do there.

The Independent reported that both men remained in police custody while Counter Terrorism Policing investigated the circumstances surrounding their presence at the base.

What did police say about the men’s possible motive?

Police have not yet established the reason the men were inside RAF Molesworth.Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, said officers were aware of increased public concern surrounding military sites but stressed that the investigation remained at an early stage.

As reported by The Independent, Flanagan said there was currently nothing to suggest that the Molesworth incident was connected with the events at RAF Fairford.

She said a significant part of the investigation would be examining any possible motivation for the men’s presence at the site, while stressing that officers were keeping an open mind and that enquiries were continuing.

Flanagan also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and contact police if they saw anything of concern.

The Guardian reported the same position, saying that police had not yet determined what the men were doing at the site and that there was no evidence at that stage linking the incident with the recent Fairford case.

How did police discover the breach at RAF Molesworth?

The sequence of events began at approximately 10pm on Wednesday, 7 October. According to reports citing police information, Ministry of Defence Police officers carrying out security patrols at RAF Molesworth identified an abandoned vehicle close to the military facility.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary officers subsequently attended and worked with Ministry of Defence Police personnel to conduct further searches around the site.Those searches led to the discovery of a small breach in the perimeter fence.

At approximately 2am on Thursday, the two men were located inside the perimeter and arrested.The Independent reported that the men were taken to a Cambridgeshire police station after their initial arrests.

The incident therefore involved several stages of police activity, beginning with the discovery of the vehicle, followed by searches around the military facility, the identification of the damaged section of fencing and, finally, the detention of the two suspects.

What happened to the abandoned vehicle?

The abandoned vehicle became a separate part of the investigation after it was discovered near RAF Molesworth.

The vehicle was recovered by police and taken to a nearby location for further searches.The Guardian reported that concerns about the vehicle resulted in the deployment of specialist explosives officers. The Independent similarly reported that Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers were called to conduct additional checks.A precautionary cordon was established while the vehicle was assessed.

The measures affected local roads in the area, including roads around Glatton and part of the A1, according to reports. After specialist officers examined the vehicle and the surrounding circumstances, the cordon was lifted.

Police said nothing of concern was found.The available reports do not indicate that explosives or other hazardous material were discovered in connection with the abandoned vehicle.

Are police searching properties in Peterborough?

Yes. Police are carrying out searches at two addresses in the Peterborough area as part of the investigation.

Counter Terrorism Policing said the searches were connected with the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the two men’s presence at RAF Molesworth.

The searches are taking place while both suspects remain in police custody.

At this stage, police have not publicly disclosed what they are looking for at the properties or whether anything relevant to the investigation has been recovered.

Why is RAF Molesworth an important military site?

RAF Molesworth is a non-flying military site in Cambridgeshire with an important intelligence role involving the United States and NATO.

The Guardian reported that the base is home to NATO’s Intelligence Fusion Centre and the US Joint Intelligence Operations Center Europe.

The NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre says its role is to provide the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Allied Command Operations with timely intelligence to support NATO planning and operations and to contribute to deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic area.

The Independent reported that the base is home to US intelligence operations serving Europe and Africa as well as a NATO intelligence hub.

The significance of the site helps explain why an intrusion into its perimeter has resulted in a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation, although the police have not said that the arrests establish a terrorist motive.

The investigation is instead focused on determining why the men were at the site and whether their presence was connected to any activity prejudicial to the UK’s safety or interests.

Is the RAF Molesworth incident connected to RAF Fairford?

Police have said there is currently nothing to suggest a connection between the two incidents.

The RAF Molesworth arrests came shortly after a separate security incident involving RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

The Guardian reported that the US had withdrawn B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford amid concerns over a possible Iran-directed attack. However, Counter Terrorism Policing has not established a link between that incident and the Molesworth case.

Commander Helen Flanagan specifically addressed the issue, saying investigators were aware of the recent heightened interest and concern surrounding military sites but that there was nothing at that stage to indicate a connection to the events at RAF Fairford.

The Independent also included the same police assessment in its report.The two cases are therefore being treated separately unless evidence emerges during the investigations to demonstrate otherwise.

What have other reports said about the arrests?

The Associated Press reported that the two men, aged 36 and 32, were arrested after Ministry of Defence security patrols and police discovered a breach in the perimeter fence.

The Financial Times likewise reported that the suspects were arrested after security personnel discovered an abandoned vehicle and a breach in the perimeter of the base. It said the men were later arrested under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023.

The Times reported that the two Latvian nationals were initially detained for alleged trespass and criminal damage before being further arrested under the National Security Act.

LBC, in its report published on October 8, also reported the arrests and said the men were initially detained on suspicion of trespass and criminal damage before being further arrested under section 4 of the National Security Act.

The reports broadly agree on the central sequence: an abandoned vehicle was discovered, a breach in the perimeter fence was identified, two Latvian nationals were found inside the base, and the men were subsequently investigated under national security legislation.

The reporting also consistently records the police position that the investigation is at an early stage and that there is currently no evidence linking the Molesworth incident with the recent events at RAF Fairford.

What is the current status of the investigation?

Both men remained in police custody as of Thursday, October 8.Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation, working with Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Ministry of Defence Police.Officers are examining the circumstances surrounding the breach, the abandoned vehicle and the presence of the two men inside the military site.

Police are also conducting searches at two addresses in Peterborough.

The central unanswered question remains why the men entered the site.Commander Helen Flanagan has said investigators are examining the possible motivationbut are keeping an open mind while enquiries continue.No motive has been established publicly, and the police have not said that the men have been charged with an offence.

The investigation therefore remains ongoing, with the arrests and allegations yet to be tested through the criminal justice process.

Background: What is the role of RAF Molesworth?

RAF Molesworth has a long-standing role in US and NATO intelligence activity.

The site hosts NATO’s Intelligence Fusion Centre, which provides intelligence to NATO’s senior military command and supports planning and operations.

US intelligence operations are also based at Molesworth. The Independent reported that the facility is being developed as a major hub for US military intelligence in Europe and Africa, including a Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex.

The Independent reported that the US Defence Intelligence Agency broke ground in 2024 on a facility valued at $556 million, or about £421 million at the time, which is intended to become a hub for US military intelligence in Europe and Africa. The facility is expected to accommodate about 1,000 intelligence personnel when completed.

The NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre states that its mission is to provide timely, relevant and accurate intelligence to support NATO operations and the alliance’s deterrence and defence objectives.

The base’s intelligence function means that security around the site is particularly important, although the current investigation has not established that sensitive information was accessed or that the two suspects reached any intelligence facilities.

Prediction: How could the investigation affect local residents and people following security developments?

For residents in the Peterborough, Glatton and wider Cambridgeshire area, the immediate effect is likely to be continued police activity while searches and enquiries are completed.

The incident has already resulted in a temporary road cordon affecting local roads, although police said the restrictions were lifted after specialist officers found nothing of concern.

Further investigative activity could mean continued police presence around the relevant locations while officers establish the circumstances of the breach.

For people following UK national security and military developments, the investigation is likely to remain significant until police establish why the two men entered RAF Molesworth.

However, based on the information available from police and the reports published on October 8, there is no established connection between the Molesworth incident and the recent RAF Fairford case.

The most significant developments to watch are therefore the outcome of the searches in Peterborough, any evidence recovered from the abandoned vehicle or the suspects’ properties, clarification of the men’s alleged purpose in entering the base, and any subsequent decision by police and prosecutors regarding charges.

Until those enquiries are completed, the men’s motive remains unconfirmed and the allegations against them remain matters under investigation.