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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| RAF Mildenhall: Shots fired in security alert at US base | RAF Mildenhall: Shots fired in security alert at US base |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has been arrested after trying to drive through a checkpoint at a base used by the US Air Force in Suffolk. | A man has been arrested after trying to drive through a checkpoint at a base used by the US Air Force in Suffolk. |
| Shots were fired by US personnel before the 44-year-old British man was detained at RAF Mildenhall. He suffered cuts and bruises. | |
| The base was temporarily put into lockdown as police responded to reports of what they called a "significant incident". | The base was temporarily put into lockdown as police responded to reports of what they called a "significant incident". |
| Police said the incident was not being treated as terrorism. | |
| A Suffolk Police spokesman said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of criminal trespass. | |
| The spokesman said no-one else was injured and no further suspects were being sought in relation to the incident. | |
| A defence source told the BBC that a man in a car had approached the main security gate and had tried to force his way through the checkpoint. | A defence source told the BBC that a man in a car had approached the main security gate and had tried to force his way through the checkpoint. |
| Suffolk police are currently at the scene and advised people to avoid the area for the time being. | Suffolk police are currently at the scene and advised people to avoid the area for the time being. |
| They say there is no wider threat to the public or people on the base and they are not looking for anyone else. | They say there is no wider threat to the public or people on the base and they are not looking for anyone else. |
| RAF Mildenhall is protected by Ministry of Defence police and US armed guards. | RAF Mildenhall is protected by Ministry of Defence police and US armed guards. |
| The US Air Force said in a statement that it had ended its own response to the incident but was continuing to work with local authorities. | The US Air Force said in a statement that it had ended its own response to the incident but was continuing to work with local authorities. |
| The base is used as a transport hub by the US and is home to a fleet of refuelling aircraft and special operations forces. | The base is used as a transport hub by the US and is home to a fleet of refuelling aircraft and special operations forces. |
| It has about 3,200 military personnel, with 400-500 UK civilian staff employed there. | It has about 3,200 military personnel, with 400-500 UK civilian staff employed there. |
| The base is one of 56 MoD sites earmarked for closure. | The base is one of 56 MoD sites earmarked for closure. |
| But the US Air Force said in September it was delaying plans to relocate its operations to a base in Germany until 2024. | But the US Air Force said in September it was delaying plans to relocate its operations to a base in Germany until 2024. |
| RAF Mildenhall has previously been a potential target for a terror attack against US military personnel. In May 2016, Junead Khan was given a life sentence for preparing terrorist acts after a court heard how he used his job as a delivery driver to gather information about the base. | RAF Mildenhall has previously been a potential target for a terror attack against US military personnel. In May 2016, Junead Khan was given a life sentence for preparing terrorist acts after a court heard how he used his job as a delivery driver to gather information about the base. |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| By Phil Shepka, BBC News | By Phil Shepka, BBC News |
| If wasn't for the police car blocking off the road into RAF Mildenhall you could be forgiven for thinking nothing had happened. | If wasn't for the police car blocking off the road into RAF Mildenhall you could be forgiven for thinking nothing had happened. |
| The roadblock is off a roundabout and motorists have been stopping to try to find out what's going on. | The roadblock is off a roundabout and motorists have been stopping to try to find out what's going on. |
| And on the base itself, where many US refuelling jets are based, it looks like business as usual and planes are continuing to take off. | And on the base itself, where many US refuelling jets are based, it looks like business as usual and planes are continuing to take off. |