Two Latvians arrested for trespass after 'breaking through perimeter fence' at RAF base used by US military intelligence are released on bail

Published: 11:38 EDT, 9 October 2026 | Updated: 11:48 EDT, 9 October 2026 Two Latvian men arrested accused of breaking through a perimeter fence at an RAF base have been freed on bail.The men, aged 36 and 32, were arrested on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK after being found inside RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire at 2am on Thursday.Officer say they are still trying to 'identify any potential motivation behind why the men were at that location'. Ministry of Defence security patrols had identified an abandoned vehicle near the perimeter of the base at about 10pm on Wednesday.Further searches were carried out around the site and a small breach of the perimeter fence was identified. The base is home to the US's intelligence operations centres for Europe and Africa, as well as a Nato intelligence hub, according to the Central Intelligence Agency's website.It is thought the incident is not connected to a suspected bomb plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire last week.Seven men were arrested on suspicion of terror offences in relation to that incident and have since been bailed. Two men, aged 36 and 32, were arrested on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK after being found inside RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire They were arrested inside the perimeter of RAF Molesworth (pictured). Both are Latvian nationals who are UK residents, Counter Terrorism Policing London said A small breach of the base's fence was found following a further search at RAF Molesworth by the MDP and the Cambridgeshire Constabulary They were arrested after police were alerted to three 'suspicious vehicles' near the RAF base in the early hours of September 27.It sparked the evacuation of 85 homes after the discovery of barrels of material found in the back of the vans, which were parked 350m from the RAF base.Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, leading the investigation into the RAF Molesworth incident, said: 'We're very aware of the recent heightened interest and concern around military sites, but there is nothing from our investigation so far to suggest this incident is connected to the events at RAF Fairford last week.'Our investigation continues and we are working closely with colleagues from the Ministry of Defence Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary on this.'A key line of enquiry remains to identify any potential motivation behind why the men were at that location, and this includes whether it may be connected to any criminal activity.'Meanwhile, I would encourage the public to remain vigilant and if you see anything of concern, then to contact police.'Latvia is a Baltic state and member of the EU and Nato that borders Russia, though relations between the two countries have been strained since Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.In 2024, the United States Defence Intelligence Agency said it had broken ground on a $556million (£421million) facility at RAF Molesworth which will serve as a hub for US military intelligence in Europe and Africa.The Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex will be home to 1,000 intelligence personnel when it is complete.RAF Molesworth is also home to the Nato Intelligence Fusion Centre, which the alliance says provides the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Allied Command Operations with intelligence to support Nato operations.The base also houses US air force units from the 423rd Air Base Group, which has its headquarters at nearby RAF Alconbury.