LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Britain's Ministry of Defence is reviewing flight records that could hold information relating to Jeffrey Epstein, a ministry spokesperson said, after files appeared to show
UK reviews RAF flight records after Epstein jet landings are reported
Defence Ministry review and police assessments
MoD reviewing RAF flight records after reported landings
LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Britain's Ministry of Defence is reviewing flight records that could hold information relating to Jeffrey Epstein, a ministry spokesperson said, after files appeared to show the late U.S. sex offender landed his private jet at military bases.
Police assess whether women were trafficked through UK airports
British police are already assessing whether Epstein trafficked women through two London airports and one in central England on private flights, as part of a nationally coordinated effort to investigate the disgraced financier's ties to Britain.
Calls to investigate use of RAF bases
But calls are growing for police to also investigate whether Royal Air Force bases such as Marham, in eastern England, and Northolt, near London, were used for the same activity after the files appeared to show Epstein's private jet had landed there too.
RAF Northolt use versus RAF Marham rarity
Private jets regularly use RAF Northolt, but it is much less common for them to land at RAF Marham, which is a key frontline base.
Defence Secretary orders review of records
Defence minister John Healey has now ordered a review of military flight records, the MoD spokesperson said in a statement late on Thursday.
Statement on uncovering and sharing relevant information
"The Defence Secretary has ordered a review of all records that the department may hold relating to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases to ensure that any information which relates to Epstein's crimes is uncovered and provided to the relevant authorities," the spokesperson said.
Support for civilian investigations and victims
The MoD will support any civilian police investigations, the statement said, adding that the ministry's thoughts were with the victims of Epstein's "vile crimes".
Continuing impact on the British establishment
Nearly seven years after his death, the Epstein scandal continues to rock the British establishment.
January file release and subsequent arrests
The latest batch of files released in January led to the brief arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles' brother, and then of Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the U.S, over their suspected sharing of confidential government documents with Epstein.
Reporting and editing credits
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, writing by Sarah YoungEditing by Gareth Jones)
