A 34-year-old Iranian man and a 31-year-old woman have been arrested after attempting to gain access to one of the United Kingdom’s most sensitive military facilities, the HM Naval Base Clyde.
According to Police Scotland, the suspects were apprehended around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday following what the Royal Navy described as an unsuccessful attempt to enter the high-security base.
Authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing but have not released further details about how the pair attempted to breach the facility. While the man has been identified as Iranian, the nationality of the woman has not yet been disclosed.
The Faslane base is one of the UK’s most strategically important military sites. It serves as the home of the country’s nuclear-armed submarines, including the Vanguard-class fleet equipped with Trident missiles—central to Britain’s nuclear deterrence system.
Under this system, at least one nuclear-armed submarine remains on patrol at all times, ensuring continuous at-sea deterrence. The current fleet is expected to be replaced by the next-generation Dreadnought-class submarines in the 2030s.
In addition to nuclear-armed vessels, the base also hosts conventionally armed but nuclear-powered submarines, while nearby facilities store the country’s nuclear warheads.
The incident comes amid long-standing protests against nuclear weapons in the UK, with Faslane often serving as a focal point for anti-nuclear activism. A peace camp has existed outside the base for decades, reflecting continued opposition to the country’s nuclear programme.
Security experts say any attempt to access such a high-security installation is treated with utmost seriousness due to its critical role in national defence.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the incident is linked to espionage, activism, or another motive.
