Latest news with #RAFBrizeNorton
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Four people, 24, 29, 36, and 41, arrested after Palestine Action RAF break-in
Palestine Action took credit for the incident where individuals sprayed red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft after breaking into RAF Brize Norton last week. It triggered the UK Government taking steps to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation, with a draft proscription order to be laid in Parliament next week. READ MORE: Keir Starmer suggests he didn't read through 'island of strangers' speech The ban under terror laws will make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, which will be punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Video sent to The National by the activist group showed two people on electric scooters crossing the runway of the base before spraying the engines of the jets with repurposed fire extinguishers. The group said they also used crowbars to cause further damage to the military planes. One of the planes hit is believed to be the UK's VIP jet, often used to fly prime ministers and Royal Family members on official visits. A 29-year-old woman and two men aged 36 and 24 have been arrested, Counter Terrorism Policing South East said, with a 41-year old woman also arrested "on suspicion of assisting an offender". READ MORE: Owen Jones: Opposing Israeli violence is 'extremist'? The world's upside down Counter Terrorism Policing South East said in a statement: 'A 29-year-old 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 yesterday [Thursday] in Newbury, Berkshire, and in London, are in connection with an incident in the early hours of [last] Friday during which damage was caused to two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. 'Those arrested are currently in police custody while enquiries are ongoing.'
UAE Moments
a day ago
- UAE Moments
3 Arrested Over Palestine Action Attack on UK Airbase
Three individuals have been arrested under terrorism laws over a Palestine Action attack on the UK airbase that has led to multimillion-dollar damage to two aircraft. A 29-year-old woman and two men, aged 36 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of a terrorist offence, police said. A fourth individual, a 41-year-old woman, was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. The arrests were made on Thursday, June 26, in Newbury, Berkshire, and in London. Palestine Action's activists claimed an incident, which ruined the Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last Friday. The group released footage of the activists breaking into the defence site and using modified air extinguishers to spray paint inside the two planes; a crowbar was also used. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed that the cost of the damage reached up to 'millions of pounds'. A police statement said that the arrests were made "on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000". The statement also read, "Those arrested are currently in police custody while enquiries are ongoing." This news comes after the UK revealed plans to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist group. Palestine Action released a statement about the arrests, saying that it "further demonstrates that proscription is not about enabling prosecutions under terrorism laws – it's about cracking down on non-violent protests which disrupt the flow of arms to Israel during its genocide in Palestine'.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Counter-terror police make four arrests over RAF base break-in
Counter-terror police arrested four people in London and Newbury following damage to two Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on 20 June. Three individuals, a 29-year-old woman and two men aged 36 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences, while a 41-year-old woman was arrested for assisting an offender. The incident, which involved spraying paint on the military planes, was claimed by the campaign group Palestine Action. The Home Secretary announced a decision to proscribe Palestine Action, which will make supporting the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Liberty, have criticised the proscription, raising concerns about freedom of expression and the broad definition of terrorism.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Four people arrested after aircraft vandalised at RAF Brize Norton
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 have said. A second woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Counter Terrorism Policing South East said in a statement: "A 29-year-old 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." Police said the arrests on Thursday in Newbury in Berkshire, and in London, "are in connection with an incident in the early hours of [last] Friday during which damage was caused to two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton". The four people are currently in custody while enquiries are ongoing, police added. Palestine Action said the arrests "further demonstrate that proscription is not about enabling prosecutions under terrorism laws - it's about cracking down on non-violent protests which disrupt the flow of arms to Israel during its genocide in Palestine". The group posted a video online claiming it was behind the vandalism at the Oxfordshire airbase last Friday, saying activists had damaged two military planes at the base. Palestine Action - which focuses its campaigns on multinational arms dealers and has previously - 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. Brize Norton is the largest RAF station, with approximately 5,800 service personnel, 300 civilian staff and 1,200 contractors. A security review was launched across the "whole defence estate" following the breach, which was condemned as "absolutely staggering" by Ben Obese-Jecty, a Tory MP and former Army officer. Sir 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." Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Monday that Palestine Action will be proscribed as a terrorist organisation following the breach at RAF Brize Norton. She said a draft proscription order will be laid in parliament next week, and if passed, it will make it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, Palestine Action. Proscription can lead to prison sentences of up to 14 years for some offences, although some breaches are punishable with fines. Read more from Sky News: Saeed Taji Farouky, a member of the group, told Sky News the proscription was "completely irrational" and "without precedent". He branded it a "knee-jerk reaction from the government" because the group "was able to humiliate them and show serious flaws in the defences of the RAF base".
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Four people arrested after aircraft vandalised at RAF Brize Norton
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 have said. A second woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Counter Terrorism Policing South East said in a statement: "A 29-year-old 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." Police said the arrests on Thursday in Newbury in Berkshire, and in London, "are in connection with an incident in the early hours of [last] Friday during which damage was caused to two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton". The four people are currently in custody while enquiries are ongoing, police added. Palestine Action said the arrests "further demonstrate that proscription is not about enabling prosecutions under terrorism laws - it's about cracking down on non-violent protests which disrupt the flow of arms to Israel during its genocide in Palestine". The group posted a video online claiming it was behind the vandalism at the Oxfordshire airbase last Friday, saying activists had damaged two military planes at the base. Palestine Action - which focuses its campaigns on multinational arms dealers and has previously - 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. Brize Norton is the largest RAF station, with approximately 5,800 service personnel, 300 civilian staff and 1,200 contractors. A security review was launched across the "whole defence estate" following the breach, which was condemned as "absolutely staggering" by Ben Obese-Jecty, a Tory MP and former Army officer. Sir 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." Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Monday that Palestine Action will be proscribed as a terrorist organisation following the breach at RAF Brize Norton. She said a draft proscription order will be laid in parliament next week, and if passed, it will make it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, Palestine Action. Proscription can lead to prison sentences of up to 14 years for some offences, although some breaches are punishable with fines. Read more from Sky News: Saeed Taji Farouky, a member of the group, told Sky News the proscription was "completely irrational" and "without precedent". He branded it a "knee-jerk reaction from the government" because the group "was able to humiliate them and show serious flaws in the defences of the RAF base".
