Six men, possibly asylum-seekers,
found hiding in truck at Lakenheath gate
By Ron Jensen, U.K.
bureau
Jimmy Harper
/ Courtesy U.S. Air Force
Staff Sgt. Jonathan Dauzat of the 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, and his
military working dog, Brit, stand ready to assist the Ministry of Defence police during a
search of a tractor-trailer at Gate 1 |
RAF LAKENHEATH, England — Seven men were being questioned Thursday by the Suffolk
Constabulary at an undisclosed location after six of them were found hiding in a truck
trying to enter Gate 1 at RAF Lakenheath, England.
The six men, who claimed to be Iraqi, and the truck driver, believed to be a German,
were arrested around noon by Ministry of Defence police, who were called by the U.S. Air
Forces security personnel.
"They will be questioned during the course of the day," a spokeswoman for the
constabulary said.
The men were arrested in connection with offenses relating to immigration. They were
also detained under the Terrorism Act 2000, although sources said none of the men is
believed to be a terrorist. The men claiming to be Iraqis are thought to be simply seeking
asylum.
Staff Sgt. Jonathan Dauzat of the 48th Security Forces was on duty with his military
working dog, Brit, when he heard a noise from a truck carrying frozen food to the
commissary as it pulled off Highway A1065 shortly before noon Wednesday.
"I thought, at first, it was the tire hitting the wheel well," he said.
But he then heard human voices shouting from inside a compartment beneath the truck.
Ministry of Defence police were called, because the vehicle was still outside the gate.
With more U.S. Air Force security forces providing support and an ambulance from the
base hospital nearby, the lock on the compartment was severed with bolt cutters, and the
six men were found.
Dauzat said he had seen recent news reports of asylum seekers hiding aboard trucks
entering Britain.
"That popped into my mind," the 25-year old said.
The truck entered the United Kingdom earlier in the day, he said.
He said the men looked tired and dirty as they emerged from their tiny hiding place.
Dauzat, a five-year Air Force veteran, said the compartment was about 2 feet deep, 4
feet long and 6 feet wide.
Traffic on A1065 was stopped for about 15 minutes as the compartment was unlocked. The
gate was closed for about two hours.
Col. John Snider, 48th Fighter Wing vice commander, said the seven men were handed over
to the Suffolk Constabulary, and the base has been cooperating with the investigation.
The truck was impounded on base overnight and is now in Suffolk Constabulary hands,
Snider said. The food has been delivered to the commissary.
The discovery by the base’s security personnel indicates that the increased
security efforts being taken in the wake of the terrorist attacks in America are working,
he said.
"I think it illustrates that we have active security measures in place," he
said. "The people out there working long hours are doing a great job."
He said there is added inconvenience for people coming to the base and closed roads
make problems for the people who live nearby, but the effort is worthwhile, and the
attitudes have been supportive, he said.
Dauzat said the incident also shows how nothing should be overlooked while on duty at
the gate.
"You never know," he said. "It could have been an individual with a
weapon. They could have had an explosive device in there."
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