Blitz Bureau
TWO men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of a terror offence after two aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, police said, reported SKY News. Another woman was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “act of vandalism” as “disgraceful”, adding, “Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.” Brize Norton is the largest RAF station, with approximately 5,800 service personnel, 300 civilian staff and 1,200 contractors.
Counter Terrorism Policing South East said in a statement, “A 29-yearold woman of no fixed abode, and two men; aged 36 and 24, both from London, were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. “A 41-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. “The arrests, which took place on June 26 [Thursday] in Newbury, Berkshire, and in London, are in connection with an incident during which damage was caused to two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton.
“Those arrested are currently in police custody while enquiries are ongoing.” Palestine Action posted a video online claiming it was behind the vandalism at the Oxfordshire airbase, saying activists had damaged two military planes at the base.
The group – which focuses its campaigns on multinational arms dealers and has previously targeted corporate banks – said two activists “broke into the largest air force base in Britain and used electric scooters to swiftly manoeuvre towards the planes”. Repurposed fire extinguishers were used to spray red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers, while further damage was made using crowbars.
“Red paint, symbolising Palestinian bloodshed was also sprayed across the runway and a Palestine flag was left on the scene,” a statement by the group said.
A security review was launched across the “whole defence estate” following the breach, which has been condemned as “absolutely staggering” by Ben Obese-Jecty, a Tory MP and former Army officer.
