Security forces responded quickly after an alert Friday evening at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, where the base hosts American F-35A and F-15E fighter wings. U.S. military officials confirmed that no personnel, aircraft, or infrastructure were affected. The incident marked the third U.S. base in Britain to face security threats in recent weeks.
At RAF Lakenheath, security personnel monitored surrounding airspace, secured perimeter checkpoints, and notified local British police. U.S. Air Force in Europe said in a statement reported by the Associated Press that it continued to work closely with host-nation counterparts to ensure the safety and security of U.S. service members, U.S. and host-nation civilians, contractors, and families; flight operations were not disrupted. Local British constabulary units assisted with perimeter checks outside the airfield. Officials reported zero injuries and no damage to military property.
Friday’s incident occurred days after the U.S. military relocated more than a dozen aircraft from nearby RAF Mildenhall. Commanders raised the alert posture there to Force Protection Condition Charlie after receiving threat intelligence; that level is the second highest in the U.S. military system and signals an elevated risk of terrorist action.
Earlier, British authorities detained a group of men after three suspicious vans were spotted traveling toward RAF Fairford. British investigators linked the suspected plot directly to Iran. Following that discovery, the U.S. military withdrew heavy bombers that had been stationed at Fairford. At least three men have since been charged with plotting to attack the base, and judicial proceedings are underway in British courts.
