Fifth person charged over damage to planes at RAF Brize Norton
A Voyager plane was damaged (Zac Goodwin/PA)
Two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, on June 20.
The action, which was claimed by the group Palestine Action, caused £7 million worth of damage to the aircraft.
The Government moved to proscribe the group under anti-terror laws after the group claimed responsibility.
Four people were charged last month in connection with the incident.
One woman who was arrested remains under investigation on police bail and one man previously arrested was released without charge.
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Palestine Action supporters claim they are the 'moral backbone' of the UK and that hundreds of them are ready to swarm police ahead of protests this weekend
Palestine Action supporters have boasted that they are the 'moral backbone' of Britain as hundreds prepare to swarm the police this weekend. At least 500 activists are set to join a demonstration at Parliament Square this Saturday, in which they will hold signs saying 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action'. It has fuelled fears of a 'mass arrest' event, with police and No 10 confirming this week that anyone who supported the newly proscribed terror group would be arrested. But yesterday Tim Crosland, co-founder of Defender Our Juries, which is organising this weekend's protest, said he was 'proud' of those who had signed up to show support for Palestine Action, calling them 'the moral backbone of this country'. He told Times Radio that arresting peaceful protesters was a waste of police time. 'I think the spectacle of police resources, a police service that's under immense pressure, that doesn't answer phone calls for burglaries, that they're dragging retired priests and teachers into police vans for holding up signs,' he said. 'It's an appalling waste of funds.' Last week, Palestine Action won permission to challenge the ban after the High Court ruled it had an arguable case. A judicial review will take place in November. Until then, the ban remains in place. It means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000. But Mr Crosland also told an online press conference yesterday afternoon that there would be continued demonstrations in support of the group until the judicial review had concluded. He said he had been 'hearing from thousands of people wanting to take part in this action'. 'It feels like there's huge energy behind it,' he added. 'By November, we hope that this crazy law is struck down and we don't need to campaign against it anymore.' The Met has said the protests had 'the intention of placing a strain on the police' - something organisers have denied. But Mr Crosland claimed the police were in 'disarray' over the ban, with forces from across the country taking differing approaches to protesters, with some not taking action against peaceful demonstrations. There have already been 200 arrests at protests organised by Defend Our Juries since the ban came into force last month. However, Mr Crosland claimed no one had yet been charged, adding that there was 'a sense' that no one would be until the appeal had been heard. The former government lawyer said Defend Our Juries had received legal advice that claims against the police 'for unlawful arrest and for trespass to people's property' could be possible if the High Court rules in Palestine Action's favour. Mr Crosland said Defend Our Juries had written directly to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Met Chief Sir Mark Rowley ahead of this weekend's protests, but had yet to receive a response. However, he said the group had received a 'nice letter' from Lord Hermer last October in relation to their Free Political Prisoners campaign, in which the Attorney General said he 'would love to meet'. 'Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the right time back then, and it seems still not to be quite the right time, but he did send us a nice letter,' Mr Crosland added. Prison bosses have initiated emergency measures for a possible influx of arrested demonstrators this weekend amid concerns that some jails are close to full. A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We are aware that the organisers of Saturday's planned protest are encouraging hundreds of people to turn out with the intention of placing a strain on the police and the wider criminal justice system. 'The Met is very experienced in dealing with large-scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality requiring arrests. 'While we will not go into the specific details of our plan, the public can be assured that we will have the resources and processes in place to respond to any eventuality. 'Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done since its proscription. 'Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.' The move to ban Palestine Action came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action three days later, saying the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage '.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Harry left ‘devastated' by boardroom battle at his charity Sentebale
On Tuesday, the Charity Commission published a report into the episode criticising all sides for making the fallout public with interviews and statements, but the war of words has continued. The Duke of Sussex with Sentebale chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka, during a fundraising polo match for Sentebale (Yaroslav Sabitov/PA) Sentebale appeared to suggest allegations made by Dr Chandauka of bullying, harassment and misogyny at the charity – which the commission found no evidence of – may be pursued against individuals through 'avenues more appropriate'. A source said: 'This has been emotionally absolutely devastating for Prince Harry and (Sentebale co-founder) Prince Seeiso (of Lesotho). What's been perpetrated over the last few months is nothing short of a hostile takeover.' Seeiso also stepped down as patron of the charity which works in Botswana and Lesotho supporting the health and wellbeing of young people, especially those with HIV and Aids. The source added: 'You have to remember Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry started this charity nearly two decades ago to honour the work and continue the legacy of their mothers Queen Mamohato and Princess Diana, and the work that they had done in southern Africa to support those living with HIV and Aids. 'In the 19 years that they have worked with this charity, and a lot of the former board of trustee members, they have raised tens of millions of pounds and distributed tens of millions of pounds.' Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned as patron alongside Harry during the boardroom battle (Andrew Matthews/PA) The commission criticised all parties in the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly and described how all trustees contributed to a 'missed opportunity' to resolve the issues that led to the serious disagreement which risked undermining public trust in charities generally. The regulator, which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying, found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity but acknowledged 'the strong perception of ill treatment' felt by some involved. After conducting its regulatory compliance case the commission issued a Regulatory Action Plan with Sentebale saying it had complied with the steps, from implementing an internal dispute policy to improving the charity's complaints and whistle-blowing procedures. The trustees who resigned said in a statement they were 'gravely concerned for the future of the charity' adding they were 'disheartened' by the way the regulator had 'chosen to ignore key concerns and irrefutable evidence raised with them regarding the leadership and oversight of Sentebale's chair'. Sentebale said in statement: 'The Charity Commission is explicitly clear, including in its public guidance, that it is not the commission's responsibility to adjudicate or mediate internal disputes. This would include individual allegations of bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir etc. Harry was presented with an embroidered traditional blanket by Lesotho's Prince Seeiso in 2010 (PA) 'As a result, the commission has not investigated any individual allegations and therefore has not made any findings in relation to individuals, including Prince Harry. 'The issues not investigated by the commission can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate than the commission.'
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Protests against Palestine Action ban to continue ‘until November'
Defend Our Juries said more than 500 people have committed to risking arrest by holding 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' signs on Saturday afternoon in London's Parliament Square. The campaign group said the protest in the capital is the only action it is organising on Saturday, but added that there could be 'other actions in solidarity' which are independently organised. A High Court ruling, last week, decided that Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori had several 'reasonably arguable' beliefs in her challenge over the group's ban that would be heard at a three-day hearing in November, but a bid to pause the ban temporarily was refused. The ban means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Defend Our Juries spokesman Tim Crosland said: 'There will be more actions to come in September and October until the law is struck down, as we believe it will be in November at the High Court.' Mr Crosland said Defend Our Juries had received legal advice that claims against the police 'for unlawful arrest and for trespass to people's property' could be possible if the High Court rules in Palestine Action's favour. The Metropolitan Police has warned that anyone found to be expressing support for Palestine Action on Saturday 'can expect to be arrested'. More than 200 people were arrested at a wave of protests across the UK in response to the proscription last month as part of the campaign co-ordinated by Defend Our Juries. Mr Crosland said police forces were in 'disarray' over their handling of the protests, adding that no protesters had yet been charged. He added: 'Nobody has been charged, it's important to say. And there's a sense that there aren't going to be any charges until the other side of the judicial review.' Discussing the arrests, Mr Crosland said: 'In Derry, in Edinburgh, Kendal, Chichester, police have left people be – it shows they can exercise common sense if they want to. 'In London, people have been arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, which is the lesser of the two possible charges, and somewhere between six and 12 hours after a police interview in the police cells, people have been arrested without charge. 'In Cardiff, people were arrested under Section 12, which is an offence punishable with 14 years' imprisonment – doing exactly the same thing, holding the same sign, quietly sitting – they were held in police custody beyond the 24-hour maximum. The time was extended under the terrorism laws while those people's houses were raided.' Palestine Action co-founder Ms Ammori said the campaign by Defend Our Juries had been 'crucial' in winning a bid to bring a High Court challenge over the group's ban. Ms Ammori told the press conference: 'It was a major factor in the judge's decision when he decided to give us permission because hundreds of people had already been arrested who will then potentially go through the criminal court system, and the judicial review will allow an authoritative decision to be made by the High Court. 'If that is successful, it would mean that the order was unlawful from the moment the decision was made to implement it, and all subsequent arrests were also unlawful.' A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We are aware that the organisers of Saturday's planned protest are encouraging hundreds of people to turn out with the intention of placing a strain on the police and the wider criminal justice system. 'The Met is very experienced in dealing with large-scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality requiring arrests. 'While we will not go into the specific details of our plan, the public can be assured that we will have the resources and processes in place to respond to any eventuality. 'Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done since its proscription. 'Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.' The move to ban Palestine Action came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action three days later, saying the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage'.
