RAF kidnap suspects ‘spotted days earlier’

WAS THIS ANOTHER LEE RIGBY ATTACK? Friday’s Daily Mail

THE two men who tried to bundle an RAF serviceman into a car at knifepoint near his base may have carried out reconnaissance days earlier.

A villager has claimed he saw two men of Middle Eastern appearance speeding away in a green Ford Galaxy three days before the kidnap attempt.

Police are looking for two individuals matching that description who were in a dark-coloured people carrier. They have not ruled out terrorism as a potential motive for the failed abduction near RAF Marham in Norfolk.

The unnamed married serviceman, thought to be a non-commissioned officer in the RAF Regiment, was jogging at 3.30pm on Wednesday when attacked. The villager, who asked not to be identified, said he saw men acting suspiciously on July 1 .

He said: ‘They were driving a green Ford Galaxy and nearly ran me off the road. If I had not taken emergency action there would have been an accident. That is why I particularly noted it. It looked suspicious.

‘They were drawing a lot of attention to themselves due to the manner of their driving.’

During the attack, the serviceman, who is in his late 20s and was not wearing any clothing linking him to the armed services, was grabbed by a man who tried to drag him to a car. His accomplice also ran towards the airman holding a military-style knife with a three-inch blade, but then moved away to help his fellow attacker who was knocked over by the serviceman.

The pair drove off, allowing the victim, who had been near the married quarters outside the perimeter fence, to flee back to the base. Police have said they think the two attackers may have been part of larger team.

There are fears the incident was a failed Lee Rigby copycat crime. The fusilier was murdered by two jihadists in 2013 outside his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London.