At Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, five journalists and two military members were briefly detained at gunpoint by security officers. Local news reports indicate the incident occurred on Monday before a groundbreaking event for a new training facility for missile operators. The federal airfield is located near Santa Barbara, California.
Reporters from Noozhawk and KEYT were among those detained. Both outlets provided detailed accounts of the incident. A spokesperson from Space Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs described the event as a communication breakdown. They stated, “Vandenberg Space Force Base is experiencing an increased number of unauthorized entry attempts. Every potential unauthorized presence must be treated as a legitimate threat until proven otherwise. While we recognize this may have been unsettling, the security of the base and its personnel is our priority.”
The detained group, escorted by uniformed public affairs staff in a government minivan, was ordered out of their vehicle with their hands up, as reported by several news sources. Officers pointed guns, sounded sirens, and set up barricades at the gate entrance. The detained individuals included two military members—one enlisted and one a junior officer—who were handcuffed and placed in base vehicles, while the civilians were instructed to sit on a curb. The entire detainment lasted over 30 minutes, causing the reporters to miss the event.
Tom Bolton, editor in chief of Noozhawk, expressed understanding of the military’s need for security but criticized the situation as unfortunate and unnecessary. He noted, “Clearly what occurred was unfortunate and unnecessary, and potentially dangerous, as firearms were drawn.” Bolton mentioned plans to discuss the matter with base leadership in hopes of preventing similar incidents.