British air base on security alert after incident at checkpoint

LONDON — A British air base used also by U.S. forces was placed on temporary lockdown Monday after a driver apparently tried to ram through a checkpoint outside the facility, British media reported.

Shots were filed by American personnel, but there were no reports of serious injuries.

A U.S. Air Force statement said one person was arrested, but gave no immediate details on the incident at the Royal Air Force base Mildenhall, about 80 miles northeast of London.

Authorities also did not immediately indicate whether the confrontation was considered terrorist related.

The BBC, citing security officials, reported that a driver tried to “force” a vehicle through a checkpoint. Police said American military personnel fired shots.

British police described the incident as “significant,” but also gave no other details.

On its Facebook page, the base air base said that they went into lockdown at 1 p.m. “following reports of a disturbance.” In a later post, they said that the lockdown was “terminated” and “operations are returning to normal.”

U.S. military aircraft at Mildenhall including air-refueling and reconnaissance planes.

Last year, a delivery driver, Junead Khan, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of plots against U.S. military personnel based in Britain. Prosecutors said Khan used his job as driver for a pharmaceutical firm to scout bases that included U.S. airmen and others.

Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.

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