Sirens sound at RAF bases following 'suspected drone activity' days after US 'evacuated aircraft amid Iran threat'

Sirens were heard blaring out of RAF bases today amid reports of suspected drone activity.The alarms were heard by residents living near RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, as well as RAF Feltwell in neighbouring Norfolk, on Friday evening.Residents described hearing what sounded like 'war sirens' from the bases at around 5.30pm, followed by an announcement over loudspeakers in an American accent instructing people to remain indoors and take shelter.It comes just days after the US military evacuated at least a dozen aircraft from a second RAF airbase due to a security threat linked to Iran. Harrowing clips filmed by residents near the airbases captured the sirens ringing out across their pitch-black gardens. The US air force confirmed the sirens at RAF Lakenheath were sparked by 'suspected unauthorized drones'. A spokesperson said: 'This evening, USAF Security Forces personnel responded to suspected unauthorized drone activity over RAF Lakenheath. 'No personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected. American jet F-15 takes off from RAF Lakenheath base in April 2018 A military vehicle stationed at RAF Lakenheath on TuesdayLight armored vehicle and military personnel are pictured at the entrance of RAF Lakenheath on September 27'We continue to work closely with our host nation counterparts to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, US and host nation civilians, contractors, and all of our families.'The force encouraged any unusual or suspicious activity to be reported to local authorities. A resident near RAF Feltwell described being 'shaken up' after sirens started blaring around her home. 'At around half 5 I was in my living room with my toddler and I heard what sounded like war sirens,' Nicole Barraclough, 22, told the Daily Mail.'At first I thought it was a car playing weird music past my house. Unfortunately though the sound continued. It continued for five minutes.'We thought maybe it was a drill. Then we heard an American male voice from the speakers telling people to remain indoors and shelter.' West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy said he had contacted officials at RAF Lakenheath following speculation over the incident and was told there was 'no threat to the public' and that the situation had been resolved.Writing on social media, the MP urged residents to continue reporting anything suspicious or unusual to the authorities given the heightened security environment. Harrowing clips filmed by residents near the airbases captured the sirens ringing out across their pitch-black gardensHe also urged the Ministry of Defence and the US Air Force to communicate as openly as operational security permits.Security has been heightened at US bases in Britain since an incident at RAF Fairford in September that Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran was involved in.Police found petrol, but no explosives, while searching vans near the base. It came after a group of men approached the base in white vans in the middle ​of the night.Two ​men ⁠were charged last month in relation to that incident, with prosecutors alleging ​one of them had tried to ​assist Iranian ⁠intelligence in Britain. Although Tehran denied any role, the US withdrew all of its bombers from RAF Fairford the following month.The US moved ​bombers that had been used to strike ​Iran out of Britain, and switched huge refuelling aircraft from ‌Britain ⁠to Germany. Nine US air force refuelling planes were scrambled from RAF Mildenhall on November, 9, flying to other bases in the UK, Germany and Spain.Three V-22 Ospreys, used by American special forces, were also withdrawn to the neighbouring RAF Lakenheath, where they can be stored in fortified hangars.The sudden evacuation has been described as 'extraordinarily unusual' by a former RAF chief. It follows a similar exodus of bombers from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, last month after an alleged Iranian terror plot was foiled.The exact nature of the latest threat is not yet known and the issue is currently being assessed by US officials, the Wall Street Journal reported.However, RAF Lakenheath shared a drone warning last week, urging locals and those living on the base to report sightings 'immediately' to security staff or police.Mildenhall and Lakenheath subsequently raised their security to 'Force Protection Condition Charlie', the second-highest threat level, which is used when intelligence suggests a terrorist attack is likely.The British Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.