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RAF Mildenhall was placed on lockdown, with buildings sealed off and staff and military personnel told to find shelter. Defence sources said a man tried to force entry to the site in a car, prompting a US serviceman to open fire on the vehicle. One man was left with cuts and bruises after he was arrested at the US Air Force base in Norfolk in connection with the incident. A man was arrested yesterday in connection with the incident. Today Suffolk police said the 44-year-old British national had been detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act. It followed claims by the Daily Mail the man had been armed “with a teddy bear”. Journalist Larisa Brown tweeted today: “EXCLUSIVE: Man arrested at RAF Mildenhall yesterday was armed with a teddy bear. Bear was strapped to his body when he forced way onto base in car.” The incident is not thought to be terror-related, according to Suffolk Police.

BREAK: US military personnel opened fire after suspect in vehicle tried to enter #RAFMildenhall - US air force base. Suspect detained with cuts & bruises — Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) December 18, 2017

Police said they were called to "significant incident" at around 1.40pm a spokesman for the base said. A man is being questioned by police after a disturbance at an RAF base during which shots were fired by US service personnel. The 44-year-old British man was apprehended at RAF Mildenhall and is being held by Suffolk Police on suspicion of criminal trespass. The incident is not being treated as terrorism. Superintendent Kim Warner, of Suffolk Police, said a vehicle failed to follow security directions at the entrance and drove on to the base. There was a "short pursuit" and the vehicle was stopped by US security services, he said. Superintendent Kim Warner, of Suffolk Police, said he was "unaware of any damage to the base itself". Flights in and out of the base were also temporarily suspended.

REUTERS RAF Mildenhall in Norfolk was placed in lockdown

The man, who suffered cuts and bruises, has been taken into custody and police are not looking for anyone else on the site in relation to the incident. There were initial reports of a car being rammed into a checkpoint, but Mr Warner said he was "unaware of any damage to the base itself". He said the vehicle was brought to a halt close to a US plane, an Osprey, and it was not thought there was "any significant damage" to the vehicle or the aircraft. There was "no obvious motive at this stage", he added. Mr Warner said there would be an internal investigation by the base into the shots fired and the security breach.

PA RAF Mildenhall was target of a foiled terror plot last year

During the incident an MOD spokesperson said: “We are aware of incident at the entry point of RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk police have primacy, all questions should be referred to them.” Suffolk Police said: "Police are responding to reports of a significant incident at RAF Mildenhall, further details shortly." They later added: "Members of the public are asked to avoid the area around RAF Mildenhall for the time being. More to follow shortly." After lockdown was lifted they said: "Police officers are currently on the scene at RAF Mildenhall."

GOOGLE MAPS The US Air Force base in Norfolk was placed on lockdown