Two Latvian nationals living in the United Kingdom have been arrested under the National Security Act following a security breach at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The incident began when Ministry of Defence Police identified an abandoned vehicle during a routine security patrol at approximately 22:00 BST on Wednesday. Several hours of searching by defence police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary uncovered a small breach in the base’s perimeter fence.
The two men, aged 36 and 32, were found inside the base perimeter and initially arrested on suspicion of trespass on a prohibited site and criminal damage. They were subsequently further arrested under section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, which covers entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
Counter-terror investigation underway
Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation, though authorities say they are not currently linking the incident to last week’s high-profile breach at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said officers are keeping an open mind.
“We’re very aware of the recent heightened interest and concern around military sites, but at this stage there is nothing to suggest this incident is connected to the events at RAF Fairford last week,” she said, according to BBC News.
Police conducted two searches at addresses in the Peterborough area as part of the investigation. Commander Flanagan stressed that the inquiry remains in its very early stages, with officers working to establish what motivated the men to enter the site.
The abandoned vehicle initially prompted the partial closure of the A1M and several roads near Glatton at around 13:00 BST on Thursday. A cordon was established whilst bomb squad officers examined the vehicle, but roads reopened shortly after when nothing of concern was identified.
Strategic importance of RAF Molesworth
RAF Molesworth, located west of Huntingdon near the Northamptonshire border, has become increasingly significant in recent years. In 2024, the US Defence Intelligence Agency announced it had broken ground on a $556 million (£421 million) facility at the airbase.
The new complex is set to serve as a hub for US military intelligence operations covering Europe and Africa. The base also houses a NATO intelligence centre, making it a strategically important installation for Western military operations.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The arrests under the National Security Act 2023 highlight the serious consequences of unauthorised access to military installations in the UK. The legislation carries severe penalties for anyone found entering prohibited sites for purposes deemed harmful to British interests.
For members of the Polish community and other foreign nationals residing in the UK, this case serves as a reminder that approaching or attempting to access military bases without authorisation can result in arrest and prosecution under national security laws, regardless of intent or immigration status.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant around military sites and to report any suspicious activity to police. Anyone living near RAF bases or other sensitive installations should be aware of boundary markers and restricted areas, and should contact local police if they witness unusual behaviour near such facilities.
The National Security Act 2023 represents a significant expansion of the government’s powers to prosecute offences related to espionage, sabotage and unauthorised disclosure of protected information. The law replaced outdated provisions from the Official Secrets Act and carries maximum sentences of up to life imprisonment for the most serious offences.
