Suspected unauthorised drone activity at a US military airbase in eastern England triggered a security response, raising fresh concerns over the safety of American military installations in Britain. The situation at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath has since been brought under control, with no damage reported to personnel, aircraft or infrastructure, US and British defence officials said on Friday.Security personnel at the base responded to reports of suspected drone activity, the US Air Forces in Europe said in a statement, according to the Associated Press (AP).“We continue to work closely with our host nation counterparts to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, US and host nation civilians, contractors, and all of our families,” the statement said.A spokesperson for Britain’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that the situation had been “resolved”. The spokesperson said US Air Force security teams had responded to the reports and British authorities were coordinating with their American counterparts to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.The official spoke anonymously because of the sensitive nature of the security matter.The latest incident is the third security-related development involving US military installations in Britain in recent weeks, amid concerns over potential threats to American military assets stationed in the country.
US relocates aircraft from RAF Mildenhall after security threat
The incident at RAF Lakenheath comes days after the US relocated more than a dozen aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, another American-operated military base located nearby in eastern England, following a security threat.During the movement of aircraft, RAF Mildenhall raised its force protection condition (FPCON) to Charlie, the second-highest security alert level. The designation is used when an incident occurs or intelligence indicates that a terrorist attack targeting military personnel or facilities may be imminent.A US official had described the relocation as a precautionary measure and not a response to an active attack.
Earlier security concerns at RAF Fairford
Several weeks earlier, British authorities detained a group of men after three suspicious vans were reportedly spotted heading towards RAF Fairford, located around 240 kilometres west of RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath.British investigators linked the suspected plot to Iran, prompting the US to withdraw bombers stationed at the facility.RAF Fairford, a British-owned military installation, has served as an operating base for American bombers during several decades of military operations in the Middle East, including the Iran war.Further arrests were subsequently made, with at least three men facing charges over an alleged plot to target the airbase.Separately, a US Army officer assigned to a Nato unit at a military installation near Gloucester, England, was arrested this week on suspicion of spying for Russia.Police clarified that the arrest was unrelated to other ongoing counterterrorism investigations, indicating that there was no established link between the case and the suspected Iran-related plot involving RAF Fairford.The developments have brought renewed attention to security arrangements at US military installations across Britain, which play an important role in American military operations and Nato activities.