Norfolk Police ‘unable to discount terrorism’ as motive for attempted abduction of serviceman at RAF base

Officers are hunting for the pair who attempted to bundle the unnamed serviceman into a car

Military police patrolling the area near RAF Marham where the attempted abduction took place (PA)

Two men who threatened a serviceman with a knife near an RAF base on Wednesday were trying to abduct him, according to a leaked official memo.

Norfolk Police have said they are “unable to discount terrorism” as a motive for the attempted knife-point abduction and released the description of the “two Asian males” they were looking for.

RAF Marham near King's Lynn is home to four squadrons who have been conducting air raids against Isis targets in Iraq and Syria from a base in Cyprus since December last year.

The base was temporarily locked down after the incident at about 3.40pm when the pair attempted to grab the unnamed serviceman, believed to be in his 20s, but he fought them off.

The serviceman was unharmed in the incident.

A note addressed to all service personnel at the base, seen by the Daily Mirror, warned: “Two Asian males approached a serviceman who was running approximately one mile outside of RAF Marham main gate and tried to bundle him into their vehicle.

“The vehicle was a dark-coloured Ford Galaxy.


 RAF Marham near King's Lynn in Norfolk is home to four squadrons carrying out air strikes in Syria and Iraq 
 (PA)

“The Asian males were carrying a knife when the serviceman was approached.”

A second memo warned all military staff to keep a low profile while in the area, avoid being alone while riding a bicycle or on foot and not to wear anything that may distinguish them as members of the air force.

Detective Superintendent Paul Durham, from the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team said: “I can confirm we are treating this as an attempted abduction and detailed inquiries are being carried out at the scene to establish the full circumstances.

“The motivation for the attack remains unclear at this time, and whilst we are currently unable to discount terrorism, there are a number of other possible hypotheses. We are therefore carrying out a thorough investigation to understand what has happened, why and who is responsible.

“Visible patrols continue in the area and officers will be carrying out house-to-house enquiries and detailed searches of the scene in Squires Hill, which remains closed for the time being.”

Both suspects were described by police as being between 20 and 30 years old and “of Middle Eastern appearance”.