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Shots fired at U.S. base RAF Mildenhall after vehicle attempts entry — U.K. police

A suspect is in custody after a vehicle tried to force its way onto RAF Mildenhall, U.S. Air Force base in Suffolk, England, military officials said.
Image: RAF Mildenhall
American Air Force Base RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.Chris Radburn / PA Wire via AP file

LONDON — A suspect is in custody after a vehicle tried to force its way onto RAF Mildenhall, a U.S. Air Force base in England, American military officials and local police said Monday.

Shots were fired by American service personnel and the base was put on lockdown during the incident.

U.S. Air Force spokesman Capt. Mark Graff said the situation was "contained" and "a suspect is in custody."

Image: RAF Mildenhall
American Air Force Base RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.Chris Radburn / PA Wire via AP file

Suffolk Police said they responded to a call from the base, about 75 miles northeast of London, at 1:40 p.m. local time (8.40 a.m. ET).

"Shots were fired by American service personnel and a man has been detained with cuts and bruises and taken into custody," the force said in a statement. "No other people have been injured."

The base has been the subject of security concerns in recent years amid rising global terrorism.

In 2016, a delivery driver was jailed for plotting to run down and then behead U.S. service personnel from the base in revenge for a friend who was killed in a drone attack in Syria. In 2015, July 4 celebrations for U.S. personnel at the base were canceled amid fears of an attack.

Alastair Jamieson reported from London. Hans Nichols reported from Washington, D.C.