WAS THIS ANOTHER LEE RIGBY ATTACK?
Airman fought off two ‘mid-east’ knifemen outside RAF base where planes take off to bomb Syria
TWO attackers tried to abduct an RAF serviceman at knifepoint, sparking fears of a terrorist plot. The suspects, said to be men of Middle Eastern appearance, attempted to bundle the victim into a car as he jogged near an airbase.
Personnel at RAF Marham in Norfolk have been warned to keep a low profile and not to travel alone after the unnamed airman fought off his attackers.
The base is home to bombers flying missions against the Islamic State terror group.
Since Fusilier Lee Rigby was murdered in 2013 by two Islamist fanatics outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, there have been fears of copycat attacks.
Earlier this year, it emerged that IS extremists had compiled a ‘hit list’ to distribute to homegrown jihadis in Britain, which included details of RAF bases which might be vulnerable.
Last night questions were raised over why police released hardly any details about the Marham attack on Wednesday
evening – despite it taking place at around 3.30pm that day. it was not until yesterday that officers said they were treating it as an ‘attempted abduction’ and looking for men of Middle eastern appearance.
Police admitted they had not ruled out terrorism, although they said there could be other motives.
the airman told police one of his assailants had a combat-style knife with a threeinch blade. the victim, who is married and in his late 20s, had gone for a run outside the military base when the first suspect leapt out at him from a parked car.
the attacker grabbed the runner’s shoulder and then his wrist and tried to drag him towards the dark-coloured people carrier ‘with a degree of force’, police said.
the airman fought back and knocked the man to the ground, but then saw a second man running towards him with the knife.
When the second suspect saw his accomplice on the floor he headed towards him and the airman was able to escape.
the running route is used regularly by base personnel and is only some 400m from its married quarters, meaning the two men could have been lying in wait for a lone victim they could abduct.
the airman, who was ‘very, very shaken’ by his ordeal, was wearing running clothes which did not show any military insignia, but he was only a mile from the airbase’s main gate. He said his first assailant shouted something, but he was listening to music through earphones and did not hear what was said.
the two suspects fled the scene and police are searching for them, the vehicle and the weapon. Detectives were last night scouring cctV footage for the car, which resembled a Ford Galaxy, and said it was possible there were more accomplices hidden from view inside.
Det Supt Paul Durham, of the norfolk and Suffolk Major investigation team, said: ‘We are treating this as an attempted abduction. the motivation for the attack remains unclear at this time, and while we are currently unable to discount terrorism, there are a number of other possible hypotheses.’ the investigation is being led by norfolk constabulary, but anti-terror officers have been consulted.
Det Supt Durham said he was unaware of any threats previously made against rAF Marham personnel.
Britain remains on high alert following last week’s Bastille Day atrocity in nice, which killed 84 people.
rAF Marham went ahead with a planned ‘family day’ for 8,000 relatives and friends yesterday, with officers in stab-proof vests guarding the entrances. A briefing was issued by Squadron leader rich curzon, of the Ministry of Defence’s protective security and investigations department, urging personnel to take extra precautions.
the memo said: ‘Following a security incident at rAF Marham, it is directed that all personnel keep a low profile and not make themselves vulnerable. Specifically, until the threat subsides, no one is to be on their own on foot or on bicycle within the local area in uniform or clothing which might identify them militarily.’
rAF Marham is home to four squadrons of tornado Gr4 bombers which have been flying raids against iS in Syria since December, from a base in cyprus.
the norfolk base houses almost 10,000 people, including members of the rAF, Army and navy and other civilian staff.
A terror trial in April heard how extremist Junead Khan, 25, used his job as a delivery driver to carry out ‘hostile reconnaissance’ outside three bases – rAF lakenheath and rAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, and rAF Feltwell in norfolk.
Khan, of luton, hoped to run down and then behead a US airman at one of the bases. He was in contact with iS operative Junaid Hussain in Syria who urged him to carry out a beheading, similar to the murder of lee rigby. Fusilier rigby was run down with a car and then butchered by islamist fanatics Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale in May 2013.
Dr Sajjan Gohel, of the Asia-Pacific Foundation, told the BBc: ‘We have known ever since the brutal murder of lee rigby that terrorist groups like iS have become obsessed in targeting the police and military – killing them, abducting them, using them for propaganda purposes.’
Jack Butcher, 22, who was visiting family at rAF Marham yesterday, said: ‘it’s scary. What has happened is a bit worrying. Obviously rAF Marham is a big target.’
the first suspect was said to be aged 20 to 30, 6ft tall, of athletic but stocky build with dark hair and a well-groomed beard.
the second man looked slightly younger, around 5ft 10in and slimmer. He was said to be clean shaven with short dark hair.
‘Using them for propaganda’