What’s going on with drones spotted over air bases in the UK?
Over the last few weeks, a number of drones have mysteriously been spotted over three air bases used by the US Air Force (USAF) in the UK.
The unmanned aerial devices were first spotted on 20 November, over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk.
The unusual activity has prompted an investigation by civilian police and supported by the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Around 60 British troops, including counter-drone specialists, have also been deployed to help defend the bases.
What we know about the drone sightings
The drones were first spotted in the vicinity of the three airbases last Wednesday.
Similar movements occurred again on Friday 22 November and “during nighttime hours” on Monday this week, a spokesperson for the USAF in Europe said.
The spokesperson said the number of aerial vehicles “fluctuated” and “varied between the bases”.
When asked by Sky News’ security and defence editor Deborah Haynes, the spokesperson said there has been “no impact to residents or infrastructure and [they] have not been identified as hostile”.
“However they are still continuously being monitored to ensure the safety and security of the installations.”
Haynes added that it remains “unclear how many drones are involved, who is operating them and why they are doing it” but it seems “sufficiently serious” for the UK to deploy military personnel.
Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which the USAF describes as the foundation of its combat capability in Europe.
RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. Pic: PA
Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refuelling Wing, and Feltwell is a hub for housing, schools and other services.
The three bases are leased by the USAF from Britain.
What has the UK and US said?
The MoD said it is supporting the USAF response to the sightings, adding that it “takes threats seriously”.
This response is understood to include the deployment of around 60 military personnel, including members of the RAF Regiment’s Force Protection Wing, with specialist skills in countering drones to help protect the US bases and try to find out who is responsible for operating the unmanned aerial vehicles.
RAF Lakenheath also in Suffolk. Pic: PA
The RAF troops operate the ORCUS counter-uncrewed air system, which has the ability to “detect, track, identify and, if necessary, defeat hostile drones”, according to the RAF website.
US military units said they were still monitoring the airspace over the three bases on Tuesday evening.
Who could be operating the drones?
Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder said on Tuesday it was too soon to draw conclusions about whether the drones were sent by hobbyists.
He admitted small drones are fairly common.
However, one security source told Sky News that the drone activity was “awfully coordinated.” Another said it was “odd” and “very weird.”
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, agreed that it did not appear that the drones were the work of hobbyists, adding that the US military would continue to investigate.
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Though it is unclear whether the drones had hostile intent, the sightings come as hostilities between Russia and Ukraine have significantly escalated.
Ukraine has struck targets inside Russia with intermediate-range missiles supplied by the US and Britain after President Joe Biden authorised the use of the weapons.
Soon after, President Vladimir warned he could hit back against countries supplying weapons being used against targets in Russia.
The FA has launched an investigation into allegations that suspended Premier League referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match.
Mr Coote booked Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski during a match against West Brom in October 2019.
The Sun claims that the day before, he discussed carding the player with a Leeds fan he had met online, then after the game messaged him saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”
Mr Coote insists nothing improper took place.
He said in a statement: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations.
“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.
“I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”
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The previous comments Coote made about Liverpool
An investigation has now been opened to get to the bottom of the claims surrounding the already-suspended referee.
Previously, a video emerged showing Mr Coote snorting a white powder.
That came after another video showed Mr Coote in a foul-mouthed rant about Liverpool FC and their then-boss Jurgen Klopp.
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After the most recent allegations, a spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) told Sky Sports News: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations.
“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.
“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.
“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA.”
It added: “We will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Davina McCall has said she is feeling “stronger and stronger” every day after having brain tumour surgery.
In an update posted to Instagram, the TV presenter emphasised the importance of sleep during her recovery after having a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst, removed.
Sporting a bruised left eye, McCall said she is being “brilliantly” looked after by her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas, and stepmum Gabby and is “just trying to sleep a lot” and “get better”.
Earlier this week, the star said she was suffering with short-term memory problems, due to the operation. But on Wednesday, she said that her memory is now “improving”.
“My short-term memory is really improving a lot every day,” she said, adding: “It has been an example to me of how much sleep helps me recover from everything.
Pic: Instagram/Davina McCall
“If I feel a bit confused or I’m struggling to concentrate, I just got to sleep, and I wake up just completely renewed and refreshed.
“I know that my brain needs lots of sleep.”
The 57-year-old ended the update by thanking fans for their “ongoing support”.
‘Out of the woods’
Speaking during a livestream on Tuesday, McCall’s partner Douglas said the star is “definitely out of the woods” during her recovery.
McCall with her partner Michael Douglas and her daughter Holly Robertson. Pic: PA
“She’s quite tired at the moment. She sleeps really well at night and goes to bed at 10pm and has a nap in the morning, and sleeps for two or three hours in the afternoon,” he said.
He added that the presenter is off work until mid-January and has “a lot of time to relax and recuperate”.
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Douglas told fans: “It’s been a very, very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We’re definitely out of the woods.”
McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.
She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and together they present a weekly lifestyle podcast called Making The Cut.
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