Two Latvian nationals arrested after hole found in fence at UK military base

Two Latvian men arrested inside a British military base used for US and NATO intelligence operations have been released on bail as police continue a national security investigation.

According to The Guardian, the men, aged 32 and 26, were detained at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire at around 2:00 AM on Thursday.

Military police began investigating after discovering an abandoned vehicle near the base on Wednesday evening.

Officers later found a a small hole in the perimeter fence before locating the two men inside the facility.

Both suspects, who live in the UK, were initially arrested on suspicion of trespassing at a prohibited site and causing criminal damage.

They were subsequently arrested on suspicion of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK under the National Security Act 2023.

The men have since been released on bail under strict conditions.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said investigators were examining why the men entered the base and whether criminal activity was involved.

Police said there was currently no evidence linking the incident to a separate security concern near RAF Fairford in September.

Officers have searched two properties in the Peterborough area and seized the abandoned vehicle.