Suspected drone activity prompts shelter order at US airbase in Britain

US Air Force personnel at RAF Lakenheath, a major military base in Britain that hosts a large number of American forces, responded on Friday evening to what a US Air Force spokesperson described as "suspected unauthorized drone activity."

The response at the base included a shelter-in-place order, according to Sky News. No personnel, aircraft, or infrastructure were affected by the incident, the US Air Force spokesperson said.

"We continue to work closely with our host nation counterparts to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, US and host nation civilians, contractors, and all of our families," the spokesperson added by email.

The event at Lakenheath took place shortly after the US Air Force moved at least two aircraft to the base following a reported Iranian threat against the RAF bases at Fairford and Mildenhall, where those aircraft had previously been located.

The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened concern about Iranian activity directed at Britain. In October, the country's domestic spy chief said that Tehran had stepped up attempts to hit harder targets, such as military sites in Britain.

Tehran has rejected accusations of involvement in the Fairford incident, along with any other accusations of malign activity in Britain. British authorities have for a number of years accused Iran of being involved in plots and attempted assassinations against dissidents, as well as Israeli and Jewish targets.

The reported drone activity in Britain follows a separate case elsewhere in Europe. Germany has blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August, after airport workers found a drone laden with explosives and a detonator at the airport.

Leipzig/Halle Airport, in eastern Germany, is an important civilian freight and NATO logistics hub. It also serves as a base for several giant Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes.

Friday's episode at Lakenheath adds to a series of security concerns involving military installations and transport hubs across Europe in recent months.