Police hunting pair who threatened serviceman with knife near RAF Marham in Norfolk

Norfolk Police have refused to say whether the incident was believed to be terrorism related

British servicemen at RAF Marham in Norfolk (file photo) (AFP)

Police are searching for two men after a serviceman was threatened with a knife near an RAF base in Norfolk.

The two men approached the serviceman, who was not in uniform, with the blade near married accommodation at RAF Marham near King’s Lynn just before 3:30pm on Wednesday.

After threatening the man with the knife they fled the scene in a dark-coloured Ford Galaxy. The serviceman was not injured in the incident.

Streets in the area were sealed off while an investigation took place and police officers patrolled the area on Wednesday evening.

Norfolk Constabulary refused to say whether the incident was related to terrorism and the local police and crime commissioner, Lorne Green, said a “very intensive investigation” was under way.

He told the East Anglian Daily Times: “There is nothing at the moment to strongly suggest one motive above another and it is all subject to a very intensive investigation at the moment.

“There is a very close co-operation between the constabulary and the military police, which is ongoing at the moment.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We are aware of an ongoing police operation in relation to an incident near RAF Marham. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

A family day for the friends and families of the RAF squadrons at the base due to take place today was to go ahead as planned.

RAF Marham is home to four air force squadrons who have been carrying out raids on Isis territory in Iraq and Syria from a base in Cyprus since December last year.

Frontline squadrons of the RAF's Tornado GR4 Force, which is focused on operations in the Middle East, operate from RAF Marham, while the Tactical Imagery-Intelligence Wing, the No 3 (RAF) Force Protection Wing and the No 93 Expeditionary Armament Squadron, the RAF's specialist weapons support squadron, are also based there.

The ticketed event, which is not open to the public, allows families and friends of servicemen and women to see the base and enjoy displays from aircraft.

The base is home to almost 10,000 people, including members of the RAF, Navy and Army, as well as the civil service and other staff.

The station is being redeveloped ahead of the arrival of the F-35 Lightning Force, the UK's new stealth fighter jet.

Additional reporting by PA