Media and Military Detained at Gunpoint at Vandenberg Space Force Base Event
Invited media and military members were held at gunpoint at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California by security officers who mistook them for gate crashers. The incident occurred before an invitation-only groundbreaking event for a new training facility. Reporters and…
Fort Myers Naples, FL, August 19, 2026 —
An incident involving detained members of the media and military occurred at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California prior to an invitation-only groundbreaking ceremony. Security officers reportedly mistook invited guests for unauthorized individuals, leading to their detention at gunpoint.
The group, which included reporters and two military members, was held for more than 30 minutes. During the detention, security personnel had guns drawn and sirens were activated. The exact reasons for the mistaken identity were not immediately clear.
Following the detainment, the individuals were released without further incident. The event was a groundbreaking for a new training facility at the base. The security lapse occurred as guests were arriving for the pre-planned, invitation-only event. No further details regarding the specific security protocols or the outcome of any internal review of the incident were provided.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
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