A civilian who breached the perimeter at MacDill Air Force Base and violently engaged security was detained Saturday, leaving an officer and the assailant with non-life-threatening injuries.
The unidentified civilian got past the perimeter of the Tampa, Florida, base around 1 p.m. and entered a violent argument with security personnel near the Dale Mabry Gate.
Fox News reported the detention after the person “violently engaged” security, citing the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office and local stations FOX 13 and WTSP-TV.
One officer and the civilian both took non-life-threatening injuries. The civilian was taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing.
MacDill is not a backwater post. It houses the headquarters of U.S. Central Command.
Around 2:30 p.m., the base posted on Facebook and closed the gate to all traffic.
The base wrote:
"The Dale Mabry Gate is currently closed to inbound and outbound traffic until further notice. Please plan accordingly and avoid the Dale Mabry Gate area until further notice."
Officials did not say what led to the attack. They did not name the civilian. They did not describe the exact method of the breach beyond the perimeter crossing and the violent engagement that followed.
Fox News Digital reached out to the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office for more. No charges or further results from the probe were detailed in the initial report.
A major command headquarters sits behind that fence. When a civilian can cross the perimeter, fight security, and leave an officer hurt, temporary gate signs are not the full answer the public should expect.
