logo
Man appears in court charged with vandalising two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in ‘£7m Palestine Action attack'

Man appears in court charged with vandalising two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in ‘£7m Palestine Action attack'

The Irish Sun2 days ago
Taxpayers likely to pick up bill for damage, court told
IN THE DOCK Man appears in court charged with vandalising two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in '£7m Palestine Action attack'
A MAN has appeared in court charged with vandalising two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in an alleged £7million attack by Palestine Action.
Muhammad Umer Khalid, 22, was held after the base in Oxfordshire was targeted on June 20.
3
Muhammad Umer Khalid has been charged over the alleged attack on RAF Brize Norton
Credit: ITV News
Two Voyager planes suffered £7million worth of damage in the protest, which was claimed by group Palestine Action.
The Government later moved to proscribe the group under anti-terror laws.
Khalid appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
He is also accused of conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for purposes prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.
The court was told the two jet engines had to be replaced following the demonstration at a cost of £2.5million each which is likely to be paid by the taxpayer.
Fire extinguishers marked with the words Palestine Action and Palestinian flags were recovered at the scene, it was said.
Prosecutor Peter Ratliff said the protesters used e-scooters to travel to the RAF base.
They then allegedly sprayed a "significant quantity of red paint into the engine of each aircraft", he added.
The court heard Khalid, who is a British citizen born in Manchester, was held at an address in Bedfordshire on Friday.
Khalid waved and saluted towards friends and family in the public gallery as he was led away from dock, with some blowing kisses back in response.
The group could then be heard chanting and waving Palestine flags outside the court after the hearing ended.
Khalid was remanded into custody ahead of his next appearance at the Old Bailey on August 22.
He is the fifth person to be charged in connection with the incident.
Last month, Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Jony Cink, 24, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22, appeared in court.
They were remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at the Old Bailey on January 16, 2026.
The Ministry of Defence had said at the time of the incident: "The UK's defence estate is vital to our national security and this government will not tolerate those who put that security at risk.
"This Government is taking the strong step of proscribing Palestine Action due to its activities, which are a threat to our national security."
3
Two Voyager aircraft were damaged
Credit: Unpixs
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ex-Army chief Lord Peter Inge famous for ‘putting the fear of God' into officers leaves staggering sum to family in will
Ex-Army chief Lord Peter Inge famous for ‘putting the fear of God' into officers leaves staggering sum to family in will

The Irish Sun

time29 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

Ex-Army chief Lord Peter Inge famous for ‘putting the fear of God' into officers leaves staggering sum to family in will

Lord Inge's daughters also get their South London-born dad's vast collection of military memorabilia HUGE FORTUNE Ex-Army chief Lord Peter Inge famous for 'putting the fear of God' into officers leaves staggering sum to family in will FORMER Army chief Lord Peter Inge left £3million in his will. Lord Inge died in July 2022, aged 86, after a five-decade career in which he rose from National Service conscript to Field Marshal. Advertisement He was the last Field Marshal to actively serve in the Army, with those since elevated to the highest rank, including King Charles, only done so after their retirement. Lord Inge was famous for putting the fear of God into other senior officers with cutting remarks and incisive questions. He was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 1992, then Chief of the Defence Staff in 1994. Lord Inge later became a fierce critic of the British campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan and blasted the Ministry of Defence for failing to 'think strategically'. Advertisement The South London-born officer took the top Armed Forces job after his predecessor was caught having an affair with a Tory MPs wife, and while British forces were struggling in Bosnia. Sir John Major's Conservative government had also pledged to further slash the size of the Army – with Inge under pressure to accept fresh cuts. The no-nonsense officer led forces through the conflict and was reportedly 'delighted' to come under mortar fire during a ride around Saravejo in a French armoured SUV. After being elevated to the House of Lords, Lord Inge of Richmond, Yorks., became a vocal critic of further plans to cut the Army. Advertisement He left £3,167,854 in his estate, reduced by £150,000 after deductions. His wife Letitia died in 2020 so it was divided between daughters Antonia, 63, and Verity, 59. They also get their South London-born dad's vast collection of military memorabilia, farm estate in Leyburn, North Yorks, and central London flat. 1 Lord Peter Inge died in July 2022, aged 86, after a five-decade career in the army Credit: Alamy

Slovenia moves to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine
Slovenia moves to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine

The Journal

time3 hours ago

  • The Journal

Slovenia moves to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine

THE SLOVENIAN GOVERNMENT has moved towards banning the importation of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. In a correspondence session, a remote discussion between ministries, the government instructed the ministries for the economy and the foreign affairs to prepare for the measure's formal proposal. 'A measure is proposed in the form of a ban on the import of goods originating from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including a ban on the circumvention of the ban on such imports,' a government statement read. The two ministries have also been tasked with examining a possible ban on the export of goods from Slovenia that are intended for Israeli settlements. 'The Government of the Republic of Slovenia will decide on further measures,' the statement added. In its statement today, the Slovenian government cited the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice from July of last year, which said that states are obliged not to conduct trade with Israeli settlements (colonies) because the occupation itself is illegal. There are more than 700,000 Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. They live in settlements endorsed by the Israeli government and the most common exports are agricultural products. Advertisement A similar ban is currently progressing through the Oireachtas in Ireland that would ban the importation of goods from Israeli settlements, but in the pre-legislative stage, a committee recommended services also be included. Today's announcement follows Slovenia's imposition of a ban on arms sales to Israel. Slovenia is one of the European Union member states that has pushed ahead with unilateral actions against Israel in response to its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip in Palestine. As a bloc, the EU has failed to take concrete action to sanction Israel despite it being found to have violated the human rights clause in its trade agreement with the bloc. In explaining Friday's decision, Slovenia said it was in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza while denouncing the EU's inaction. Need more information on what is happening in Israel and Palestine? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to navigating the news online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Slovenia bans imports from Israeli settlements over Gaza war
Slovenia bans imports from Israeli settlements over Gaza war

RTÉ News​

time3 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Slovenia bans imports from Israeli settlements over Gaza war

Slovenia has introduced a ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories and approved an additional aid package for Palestinians in Gaza, the government said in a statement. "The government today banned the import of goods originating from settlements in the occupied territories, including a ban on circumventing the ban on these imports," the statement on the government website said. The statement did not specify whether the ban refers to all goods produced in the territories or just Israeli goods. The Slovenian government also instructed the competent ministries to consider banning the export of goods from Slovenia intended for these Israeli-occupied settlements. "Israeli government's actions, including the construction of illegal settlements, expropriations, the forced displacement of the Palestinian population, the destruction of their serious and repeated violations of international humanitarian law," Prime Minister Robert Golob said in statement quoted by the STA news agency. "These actions not only threaten the lives and dignity of the Palestinian population, but also the foundations of the international order," it added. The news agency said the volume of goods affected is extremely low at under €2,000 in 2023. A demonstration was held in the capital Ljubjana to draw attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal. The Israeli government deems settlements legal under its own laws, while some so-called "outposts" are illegal but often tolerated and sometimes later legalised. Last month, a cross-party Oireachtas foreign affairs committee report on the Occupied Territories Bill "strongly recommends" services as well as goods should be included in any Government legislation. The committee has been tasked in recent weeks with drawing up a pre-legislative scrutiny report on the long-awaited Occupied Territories Bill, which will include a series of non-binding recommendations that will subsequently be considered by Government. The question of whether the bill should be limited to goods from what it describes as the Occupied Territories or be extended to services as well has been a key subject of debate in recent weeks due to the potential economic impact such a move could cause.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store