RAF LAKENHEATH, England — Concern over a suspicious vehicle at one of the gates to RAF Lakenheath, eased Wednesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Suffolk Constabulary said.
The vehicle was stopped Wednesday around 8:50 a.m. at Gate 8, which was then closed as a precautionary measure, a news release from the 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office said. Gate 1, the main gate for RAF Lakenheath, was also closed as a precaution. Traffic was diverted off highway A1065, which runs by Gate 8.
A news release from the 48th Fighter Wing said the gates have now been reopened.
Suffolk Constabulary and the U.K. Ministry of Defence responded to the incident. A ministry official said an explosives disposal unit had been dispatched.
Anne Breach, a spokeswoman for the constabulary, said in a phone interview that officials were less concerned about the vehicle.
Breach said a bomb-detecting dog earlier had detected something in the vehicle and officials are investigating what triggered the dog. A loaded pallet was removed from the vehicle around 1 p.m. to determine what triggered the dog.
The incident is ongoing and officials said more information will be released when available.