Abandoned car, and a breach in the fence: 2 strangers broke into another US base in Britain

British police arrested two Latvian nationals on suspicion of breaking into RAF Molesworth, a base operated by the US. The pair's abandoned car was found during a routine patrol, and a breach was discovered in the fence. The investigation has been handed over to the counter-terrorism unit, but there is no evidence linking the incident to the foiled attack attempt at RAF Fairford last week.

British police announced this evening (Thursday) the arrest of two Latvian nationals, aged 32 and 36, who reside in the UK, on suspicion of breaking into RAF Molesworth. The base, located about 110 km north of London, is operated by the US Air Force and houses intelligence personnel from US Africa Command and NATO's Intelligence Fusion Centre. Additionally, the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) began construction two years ago of a military intelligence centre for Europe and Africa at the base, at a cost of about half a billion dollars. The two were apprehended inside the base compound around 2 AM, after their abandoned car was found during a routine security patrol and a small breach was discovered in the fence. Initially arrested on suspicion of trespassing and causing damage, the suspicion was escalated to entering a prohibited area with intent harmful to the UK. The investigation is being led by the British police's counter-terrorism unit. The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened tension in the kingdom following the foiled attack attempt last week at RAF Fairford, from which US bombers took off for strikes in Iran. The head of the counter-terrorism unit, Helen Flanagan, clarified that there is currently no evidence linking the events.