Airbases back to normal after alerts
SUFFOLK's American airbases were getting back to normal today after being rocked by security alerts.The main road into RAF Mildenhall - the A1101 - was closed off at about 10.
SUFFOLK's American airbases were getting back to normal today after being rocked by security alerts.
The main road into RAF Mildenhall - the A1101 - was closed off at about 10.30am at the Main Gate yesterday after security staff found a suspicious package which triggered an Army bomb disposal unit response.
It later emerged the package was nothing more than an empty white box.
A short while later, eight Afghan children aged between 11 and 16 years old, were discovered in a delivery vehicle heading towards RAF Lakenheath.
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The children - all boys - were found in the back of the vehicle and were yesterday in the custody of the 48th Special Forces Squadron.
Steve Partridge, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, said the children had not been arrested but their welfare needs were being assessed.
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He added the immigration service had been made aware of the situation and would be taking custody of the children.
Security and terrorism expert Mike Yardley said the incidents reflected a general tightening of security around such institutions in recent years.
He said: “Every Army or military base has contingency plans for what to do in such circumstances and everybody is a bit more on the ball in terms of perimeter security.
“For obvious reasons the threat levels have clearly risen in recent years and there is not really a thing called amber alert any more. One has to be on the ball all the time.”
