UK police in 'significant incident' at air force base

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON

British police have arrested a man after responding to a "significant incident" at RAF Mildenhall located in Suffolk, England, officers said Monday afternoon.

A man was taken into custody after he attempted to break into the military base used by the U.S. Air Force by ramming a vehicle into a perimeter gate, according to local media reports.

The base was in lockdown following the attempted security breach.

U.S. military personnel fired shots and "a man was taken into custody with cuts and bruises," Suffolk Police confirmed in a statement.

"No other people have been injured as a result of the incident," it added.

“Members of the public are asked to avoid the area around RAF Mildenhall for the time being," police tweeted earlier.

A spokesman for Ministry of Defence said the security lockdown was later lifted but roads leading to the base remained close.

RAF Mildenhall is mostly used by troops from the US Air Force.