Latvia's State Security Service assists UK authorities over two Latvians detained at air force base

Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) is providing support to its British counterparts in an investigation involving two Latvian nationals detained in the United Kingdom on suspicion of unlawfully entering a Royal Air Force base in Cambridgeshire, in southeast England. The service confirmed this to the Latvian news agency LETA. The base also hosts a NATO intelligence centre.

Because British institutions are investigating the case, the VDD offered no further comment. The service has no criminal case open against the two men. It noted that both have lived permanently in the UK for several years.

How the arrests unfolded

The two men, aged 32 and 36, were detained early on Thursday, at about 2 a.m., on the grounds of RAF Molesworth. Ministry of Defence police, carrying out a security patrol, found an abandoned vehicle on the base. Cambridgeshire police officers arrived at the scene and, together with the MoD police, searched the area further. A small breach in the perimeter fence was found, and the two men were located shortly afterwards.

They were first arrested on suspicion of trespassing in a prohibited area and causing damage to property, and were taken to a Cambridgeshire police station. They were then arrested again on suspicion of an offence under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, which concerns entering a prohibited place for a purpose that harms the UK. Both remain in police custody.

Course of the investigation

The inquiry is led by Helen Flanagan, head of London's counter-terrorism policing. She said the investigation is at a very early stage and much of it is focused on possible motives for the men's presence at the site. According to her, nothing at this point suggests a link to events at Fairford base last week. Flanagan urged the public to stay vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police.

As part of the investigation, officers are searching two addresses in Peterborough.