Six people have now been arrested following a serious security breach at RAF Brize Norton, after pro-Palestinian activists vandalised military aircraft in a high-profile protest last week.
The incident took place on Thursday, 19 June, when members of the activist group Palestine Action gained access to the Oxfordshire airbase. According to video footage released by the group, one individual was seen riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft before spray-painting inside one of its jet engines.
Palestine Action later claimed responsibility for the act, describing it as a “direct intervention” against what they referred to as “genocide” and alleging that the aircraft were facilitating military operations involving Israel.
In the days since, Counter Terrorism Policing South East has launched an extensive investigation, resulting in six arrests.
On Friday, 27 June, officers detained three individuals, a 29-year-old woman with no fixed address, and two men aged 36 and 24 from London. All three were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
A fourth individual, a 41-year-old woman, was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Two more arrests followed on Saturday, 28 June, when police detained two London-based men, aged 22 and 24, on suspicion of terror offences.
All six suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced that Palestine Action will be proscribed under terrorism legislation. The designation would make it a criminal offence to support or promote the group, carrying penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
RAF Brize Norton is the RAF’s largest base and plays a crucial role in supporting British and allied operations around the globe. The breach has raised significant concerns about base security and the evolving nature of protest activity in the UK.
