RAF Mildenhall: Man Held Under Mental Health Act

A man arrested after a disturbance at an RAF base during which shots were fired by US service personnel has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

The 44-year-old British man was apprehended at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk on Monday after a vehicle failed to follow security directions at a checkpoint and drove onto the base.

There was a "short pursuit" and the vehicle was stopped by US security services near to a US plane, an Osprey, Suffolk Police said.

Police investigating the incident have confirmed it is not being treated as terrorism.

In a statement released by Suffolk Police, they confirm the man, who suffered cuts and bruises during the incident, was initially arrested on suspicion of criminal trespass.

The base was put into lockdown around 2pm on Monday, with shots being fired by American service personnel after the security incident.

The man is alleged to have tried to force entry through a checkpoint with a car. 

Suffolk police have said that the man has been taken into custody with cuts.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said:

"We are aware of incident at the entry point of RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk police have primacy; all questions should be referred to them."

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."

According to Sky News a National Police Air Service's helicopter was called to the base.

Suffolk Police have asked members of the public to avoid the area.

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

Last year a British-born Islamic extremist was jailed for life for planning a mass terrorist attack on five US Air Force bases in the UK, RAF Mildenhall being one of them. 

RAF Mildenhall and its sister base RAF Lakenheath have the largest US Air Force presence in the United Kingdom.

Currently there are around 3,200 military personnel, with 400-500 UK civilian staff employed there.

The range of air units assigned to RAF Mildenhall includes everything from special operation wings to air squadrons which support air mobility in Africa and Southwest Asia.

• 100th Air Refueling Wing - RAF Mildenhall's current host wing and the only permanent U.S air refuelling wing in European theatre, running since February 1992.
• 501st Combat Support Wing - Operational at Mildenhall since May 2005, it's a non-flying unit that provides admin and operation for the various smaller Air Force units scattered across the UK.
• 352d Special Operations Wing (AFSOC) - Responsible for infiltration, extraction and resupply operations in hostile territories.
• 95th Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC) - Conducts real-time intelligence, information warfare and combat support to leadership and commanders.
• 488th Intelligence Squadron (ACC) - Provides support to tactical warfighters and decision-makers.
• 727th Air Mobility Squadron (AMC) - The 727th AMS provides air-mobility support for Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.
• Fleet Industrial Supply Center Sigonella, Detachment Mildenhall (FISCSI Mildenhall) This US Navy detachment provides fleet support in the UK and Northern Europe, including receiving and shipping high-priority parts and mail

The US Air Force announced in September that plans to relocate operations to a base in Germany were delayed until 2024.