RAF Mildenhall: Shots fired as US air base placed on lockdown amid 'significant incident'

Shots fired by American service personnel, say police

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RAF Mildenhall, a US Air Force base in Suffolk, was placed on lockdown after a security incident police described as a “significant incident”.

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Suffolk Police said American service personnel fired shots during the disturbance.

“A man has been detained with cuts and bruises and taken into custody. No other people have been injured as a result of the incident,” the force added.

A spokesman from the base’s public affairs office confirmed it had been locked down, but that the lockdown had been lifted shortly after 2.30pm.

The Independent understands that a single driver in a vehicle approached a checkpoint and forced his way inside.

American security personnel opened fire and the driver was taken into custody, before being handed to Suffolk Police for a civilian investigation.

A small contingent of British liaison officers are also stationed at the base, which is predominantly staffed by American forces.

RAF Mildenhall’s Facebook page said the measures were taken at 1pm on Monday after “reports of a disturbance on base”.

Suffolk Police tweeted that its officers were still at the 1,162-acre base, which houses about 3,100 members of the US military and an additional 3,000 family members.

The base is currently home to the 100th Air Refueling Wing. Its KC135 tankers are used to refuel US and Nato aircraft in Europe.