BERLIN (AP) — The German military says seven people were detained after cutting through a fence surrounding a U.S. air base that peace activists claim holds nuclear weapons.

Germany's dpa news agency reported Monday that the activists were stopped after entering the security zone at the Buechel Air Base, in the country's west.

The German military said the intruders were later released and now face criminal complaints for property damage, breaking and entering, and dangerous interference with air traffic.

It's the second time in less than 10 days that anti-nuclear activists have broken into the base.

German and U.S. forces are jointly stationed at Buechel Air Base. A legal complaint from a nearby resident over the storage of nuclear weapons at the base was rejected by Germany's top court earlier this year.