Civilian detained after 'violently engaging' security personnel at Florida Air Force base: report

A civilian assailant was detained outside MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on Saturday after the person "violently engaged" security personnel, according to reports, citing the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office.

The civilian breached the perimeter of the Tampa base around 1 p.m. Saturday and got into a violent argument with security, leaving one officer and the civilian with non-life-threatening injuries, according to FOX 13 and WTSP-TV. 

"The Dale Mabry Gate is currently closed to inbound and outbound traffic until further notice," the base posted on Facebook around 2:30 p.m. "Please plan accordingly and avoid the Dale Mabry Gate area until further notice."

Police officers with the Tampa Police Department block traffic along South Dale Mabry Highway near the main entrance of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., after a suspicious package was reported at the gate on March 16, 2026. (Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

The investigation is ongoing.

MacDill Air Force Base is in Tampa. (Google Maps)

The base didn’t specify what led to the attack.

The headquarters of U.S. Central Command are located at the base.

The headquarters of U.S. Central Command stands at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 6, 2017. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital has reached out to the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office.