Harry Dunn: Family ‘upset’ as plans to redevelop US spy base where he died are revealed

US spy chiefs are plotting to redevelop the intelligence hub where British teenager Harry Dunn was killed on his motorbike last year.

The 19-year-old’s family have told Sky News they are “outraged” and “deeply upset” over plans to erect new radar domes and four other buildings at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

The Americans who run the base never discuss personnel or what they do, but CIA agents are among those who are stationed there.

Former intelligence officer Anne Sacoolas, whose husband also worked in intelligence at the base, hit Harry Dunn head on while driving on the wrong side of the road outside the base last August.

She then left the UK claiming diplomatic immunity and the British government is currently trying to extradite her to face justice.

Harry’s mother, Charlotte Charles, told Sky News it was “the height of arrogance” for the US to expect it can be “business as usual” at RAF Croughton.

In an open letter she wrote: “It appears to be the case that what is uppermost in the US government’s mind, so soon after Harry’s death, is to bring forward plans to expand their operations at the base.

“It has upset us all terribly and caused outrage in the community.”

She added that it “shows the contempt they have for us as a nation and how little they really think of the importance of Harry’s life”.

The US authorities have not commented on the proposed changes but a UK government spokesperson insisted: “This is not an expansion of RAF Croughton and will not increase the number of personnel based at the unit.”

However South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom has secured a debate in parliament on what she describes as the “expansion” at the base.

The former conservative cabinet minister has backed the family’s campaign to improve road safety around the base after a series of “near misses” involving drivers stationed at Croughton.

Scott Lucas is professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham. He says US intelligence has too much invested in Croughton for it to take much account of external considerations.

“When you have that much American money and power invested in a base it is going to be very difficult to pull back their plans,” he said.

“This is one of the key positions not only for the US military, but for the US intelligence community, the electronic intelligence agency, the National Security Agency, the CIA, and other agencies connected with homeland security.”

Professor Lucas said there were “lots” of US spies based at Croughton. “There are CIA officers there and I’m not breaking any official secrets here, in fact it has been acknowledged as a US intelligence base for years.

“That intelligence community is working with the military to act upon it, maybe for a drone strike, maybe to keep an eye on what the Russians are doing in Europe.”

Mother-of-three Anne Sacoolas is now living with her family back in the United States and has never spoken publicly about the crash or the decision to flee.

In January the US turned down the UK request for extradition which the Home Office described as a “denial of justice”.

(c) Sky News 2020: Harry Dunn: Family ‘upset’ as plans to redevelop US spy base where he died are revealed