Pro-Palestinian activists have broken into RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest air force base, and caused damage to two military aircraft in a dramatic overnight operation, it has emerged.
According to Palestine Action, the group behind the break-in, activists used electric scooters to reach the parked aircraft before spraying red paint into the turbine engines of two RAF Airbus Voyager planes. The paint, deployed via repurposed fire extinguishers, was intended to symbolise “Palestinian bloodshed,” the group said. They also reportedly used crowbars to inflict further damage and sprayed red paint across the runway.
The aircraft are believed to be involved in regular military flights between the UK and Cyprus, a strategic location allegedly used to support operations in Gaza and the wider Middle East.
“Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza, and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets,” a Palestine Action spokesperson said in a statement this morning.
“Britain isn’t just complicit, it’s an active participant in the Gaza genocide. By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.”
The RAF has not yet confirmed the extent of the damage or disruption caused, but RAF Brize Norton remains one of the most critical hubs for UK military logistics, described officially as providing “rapid global mobility in support of UK overseas operations and homeland defence.”
Background on the Group
Palestine Action is known for its confrontational direct-action tactics targeting British institutions and companies it accuses of supporting Israel’s military efforts.
In October 2023, members sprayed the BBC’s London headquarters with red paint, accusing the broadcaster of biased coverage of the war in Gaza. The group has previously identified 50 British buildings it intends to target over alleged ties to the Israeli defence industry.Much of its attention has focused on Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons firm with UK operations. In 2022, the group forced a shutdown of UAV Engines Ltd in Staffordshire, which it claims builds engines for Israeli combat drones. Most recently, two activists, Iola Davies, 73, and Jasmine Murphy, 23, were found not guilty of obstruction after blocking the gates of the same facility.
This morning’s incident marks one of the most direct and high-profile actions yet against a UK military base.
