Pair who tried to abduct RAF man likely to have been part of a larger gang

Superintendent Paul Durham encouraged anyone who thinks they may have seen the dark-coloured people carrier to come forward.

He said: “While the victim only witnessed two attackers, there may have been more than two people in the vehicle and, given the nature of the attack, it is likely they were part of a larger team.

“This is important because I do not want to deter any potential witnesses from coming forward; it is the vehicle we are interested in, regardless of the number of people seen inside.”

Police, who have now lifted the cordon at the attempted abduction scene on Squires Hill, have also appealed to drivers in Marham and King’s Lynn to look at their dash-cam footage in case they come across any useful information.

Det Supt Durham said: “Many people now use these devices and they may contain something that the driver or rider isn’t aware of, so I would urge people to review their footage from the week leading up to the incident and contact us if they feel it could assist the inquiry.”

Police are keen to trace the two men, a dark-coloured people carrier and also the “military-style” knife, with a 2.5 to 3in blade.

Officers have urged anyone who was walking or driving on Squires Hill between midday and 6pm on Wednesday to come forward.

Norfolk Police released descriptions of the two suspects on Friday as service personnel were reportedly sent a memo warning them about the incident.

The first suspect is described as between 20 and 30 years old, about 6ft tall, of athletic, stocky build, with dark hair, which was long on top.

He had a well-groomed beard, was Middle Eastern in appearance, with a dark skin tone, and he wore dark, casual clothing.

The second suspect is described as being between 20 and 30 but younger than the first suspect and of a slimmer build. He was approximately 5ft 10in, clean-shaven, with short dark hair. He was also Middle Eastern in appearance, and wore a white T-shirt and dark shorts.

The Marham base is home to almost 10,000 people, including members of the RAF, Army and Navy.