LONDON (The Thursday Times) — The US Air Force said it responded to “suspected unauthorised drone activity” over RAF Lakenheath in eastern England on Friday night, adding that no personnel, aircraft, or infrastructure were affected.
Residents of a nearby village reported hearing sirens at the base in Suffolk, which is home to the US Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing. Known as the Liberty Wing, it has almost 7,000 active-duty personnel and is the largest US fighter operation in Europe.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said it was “coordinating with all relevant parties” and that US Air Force security forces had responded. “The situation is now resolved. We are working closely with them to establish the facts,” a spokesperson said.
Nick Timothy, the member of parliament for West Suffolk, said authorities at the base had told him “there is no threat to the public, and the incident is now resolved.”
“Given the raised threat level, I continue to encourage everyone to report anything suspicious or out of the ordinary to the authorities,” he said.
The US Air Force also asked the public to report any unusual or suspicious activity to local authorities. Neither it nor the ministry said whether drones had been confirmed over the base, or who might have flown them.
Lakenheath has been on “Charlie” alert, the second-highest threat level used by the US Department of Defense, since September.
The alert came days after at least 12 US Air Force aircraft, including two KC-135 refuelling tankers, left nearby RAF Mildenhall. The departure was reported to be a response to a further threat from Iran, which officials have not confirmed.
US bases in Britain have been under heightened security since an alleged plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in September. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Iran played a part in that incident, which Tehran denies. Police found petrol but no explosives in vans searched near the base, and two men have been charged in Britain.
The US moved all its bombers out of Fairford in October, with President Donald Trump saying “some threats” had led to the decision. Police have also investigated a trespass at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, another base used by the US Air Force.
