Latest: ‘No obvious motive’: Man questioned after US military open fire at British base

Latest: A man is being questioned by police after a disturbance at an RAF base during which shots were fired by US service personnel.

Latest: ‘No obvious motive’: Man questioned after US military open fire at British base

Update 8.06pm: A man is being questioned by police after a disturbance at an RAF base during which shots were fired by US service personnel.

The 44-year-old British man was apprehended at RAF Mildenhall and is being held by Suffolk Police on suspicion of criminal trespass. The incident is not being treated as terrorism.

Superintendent Kim Warner, of Suffolk Police, said a vehicle failed to follow security directions at the entrance and drove on to the base.

There was a "short pursuit" and the vehicle was stopped by US security services, he said.

The man, who suffered cuts and bruises, has been taken into custody and police are not looking for anyone else on the site in relation to the incident.

There were initial reports of a car being rammed into a checkpoint, but Mr Warner said he was "unaware of any damage to the base itself".

He said the vehicle was brought to a halt close to a US plane, an Osprey, and it was not thought there was "any significant damage" to the vehicle or the aircraft.

There was "no obvious motive at this stage", he added.

The base, which is used by the US Air Force, was put on lockdown at around 1.40pm on Monday.

Mr Warner said there would be an internal investigation by the base into the shots fired and the security breach.

Suffolk Police said inquiries were ongoing and officers were receiving support from other law enforcement agencies.

The force said in a statement: "There is no wider threat to the public or occupants on the base and no other people have been injured as a result of the incident."

In November last year the then defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said RAF Mildenhall was one of 56 Ministry of Defence sites earmarked for closure.

The base, due to shut in 2022, is home to the US Air Force's 100th Air Refuelling Wing and 352nd Special Operations Wing.

It is believed to be home to around 3,000 military personnel and their families, and has previously been identified as a potential target for terrorists.

In May 2016, Junead Khan was given a life sentence at Kingston Crown Court for planning a strike against American military personnel in Britain.

Khan, of Luton, used his job as a delivery driver to scout bases including Mildenhall and nearby RAF Lakenheath the previous year.

Update 6.52pm: Incident not being treated as a terrorism

A disturbance at RAF Mildenhall during which shots were fired by US service personnel is not being treated as terrorism.

A 44-year-old British man was initially arrested on suspicion of criminal trespass, Suffolk Police said

The man, who suffered cuts and bruises in the incident, has been taken into custody and police are not looking for anyone else on the site in relation to the incident.

Update 4.53pm: 'No wider threat to the public'

No other police forces are thought to be involved in the incident at this stage.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Police was unable to confirm whether the matter was being treated as terrorist-related.

But the force said in a statement that while the incident was ongoing, there was no wider threat to the public, or base occupants.

In November last year the then Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said RAF Mildenhall was one of 56 Ministry of Defence sites earmarked for closure.

The base, which is due to shut in 2022, is home to the US Air Force's 100th Air Refuelling Wing and 352nd Special Operations Wing.

In a statement issued by Suffolk Police, a US Air Force spokesman said: "We've concluded our combined response to this incident and we are continuing to support local authorities in the ongoing investigation."

Update 3.31pm: US military open fire in incident at British base

Shots were fired by US service personnel and a suspect was arrested after a disturbance at RAF Mildenhall.

Suffolk Police confirmed the arrest as the base, which is used by the US Air Force, was put on lockdown amid reports of a car being rammed into a checkpoint.

The force said the suspect had been taken into custody.

He was said to have suffered cuts and bruises during the incident, which happened at around 1pm.

Update 3.11pm: US Air Force was on lockdown after ‘car tries to ram gates’

Two businesses on the base confirmed they were no longer on lockdown after the security alert.

A member of staff at Jumppin Jacks Funhouse in Mildenhall told the Press Association: "All the American children playing here suddenly left, but we didn't hear anything or know why."

Original story (2.55pm): US Air Force in Britain on lockdown after 'significant incident'

UK police are responding to reports of a "significant incident" at RAF Mildenhall.

The US Air Force base in Suffolk is reportedly on lockdown amid reports of a car trying to ram the gates.

A brief statement on the base’s Facebook page said: "RAF Mildenhall locked down at 1pm today following reports of a disturbance on base.

"The base was locked down and emergency personnel are responding to the situation.

"Additional details will be provided as they become available."

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