An Iranian man and a woman have been arrested after attempting to enter the Faslane naval base in Scotland, according to Police Scotland.
The Royal Navy confirmed that the pair, a 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, were arrested at HM Naval Base Clyde at about 17:00 on Thursday. The woman's nationality is unknown.
Police Scotland stated that its inquiries are ongoing, with the Royal Navy adding that the suspects "unsuccessfully attempted" to enter the base near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute.
Incident Details
The pair did not try to force their way into the base but instead asked if they could enter and were refused permission, leading to their arrest shortly afterwards.
Faslane is home to the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines, including the Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines which carry Trident nuclear missiles.
International Context
The arrests come after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing the country's supreme leader on 28 February, and Iran's subsequent attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK is reviewing its terror threat level, which remains at "substantial", meaning an attack is "likely".
UK Response
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the UK has "stepped up protections for British bases and personnel to their highest level", although it is unclear if this applies to all bases or only those in the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
