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CNN
5 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Pro-Palestinian activists infiltrate Britain's largest airbase in major security breach
Pro-Palestinian activists broke into Britain's largest air base and damaged two military aircraft in central England early Friday. Palestine Action, a UK-based group that aims to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government, posted footage of the action to its X account. The video shows two people riding on electric scooters on the tarmac of RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire. The activists can be seen spraying red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers, which they said were targeted for their alleged role in carrying military cargo and for their use in refueling Israeli, American and British military aircraft and fighter jets. 'Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East,' a Palestine Action spokesperson said in a statement. 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people,' it added. A Ministry of Defence source told CNN that RAF Voyagers do not carry anything for the Israeli forces or refuel Israeli aircraft. The incident raises wider questions as to how the activists – who have not been apprehended – managed to get into the airbase undetected. RAF Brize Norton has approximately 5,800 service personnel, 300 civilian staff and 1,200 contractors. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence strongly condemned the 'vandalism of Royal Air Force assets' and said that it was working with police who were investigating the breach. In a statement posted to X, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident 'an act of vandalism' and said it was 'disgraceful.'
CNN
5 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Pro-Palestinian activists infiltrate Britain's largest airbase in major security breach
Pro-Palestinian activists broke into Britain's largest air base and damaged two military aircraft in central England early Friday. Palestine Action, a UK-based group that aims to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government, posted footage of the action to its X account. The video shows two people riding on electric scooters on the tarmac of RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire. The activists can be seen spraying red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers, which they said were targeted for their alleged role in carrying military cargo and for their use in refueling Israeli, American and British military aircraft and fighter jets. 'Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East,' a Palestine Action spokesperson said in a statement. 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people,' it added. A Ministry of Defence source told CNN that RAF Voyagers do not carry anything for the Israeli forces or refuel Israeli aircraft. The incident raises wider questions as to how the activists – who have not been apprehended – managed to get into the airbase undetected. RAF Brize Norton has approximately 5,800 service personnel, 300 civilian staff and 1,200 contractors. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence strongly condemned the 'vandalism of Royal Air Force assets' and said that it was working with police who were investigating the breach. In a statement posted to X, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident 'an act of vandalism' and said it was 'disgraceful.'
ITV News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military planes
Members of a pro-Palestinian activist group have broken into a military base and damaged two aircraft. Two Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Carterton, Oxfordshire, on e-scooters and sprayed red paint on two planes. The group said the incident took place due to flights departing daily from the base to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, "a base used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East". They had repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint, which they say symbolises the "bloodshed" in Gaza, into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers and caused further damage using crowbars. Paint was also sprayed across the runway and a Palestinian flag was left on the scene. Palestine Action said the pair involved in the incident were not apprehended by security and no arrests have been made. A Palestine Action spokesperson said: "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. "Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. "By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened to break the chains of oppression." A Ministry of Defence Spokesperson said: "We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating. "Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain. They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us."
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Pro-Palestine activists break into RAF base and damage military aircraft
Palestine Action activists broke into the RAF Brize Norton base and damaged two military aircrafts, according to the group. Pro-Palestine activists infiltrated an RAF air base and inflicted damage on two military aircraft, according to reports from the group. The activists allege planes depart daily from Brize Norton to Cyprus, which is "used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East". The campaigners, utilising electric scooters, approached the aircraft and with "repurposed fire extinguishers sprayed red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers". They also claim to have used crowbars to cause further damage, reports the Mirror. The selection of red paint was intentional to represent "Palestinian bloodshed", which they not only sprayed on the aircraft but also across the runway. Palestine Action, a collective condemning the UK's involvement in what it views as Israel's targeting of Gaza civilians, argues their daring protest "interrupted Britain's direct participation in the commission of genocide and war crimes across the Middle East". The RAF operates flights from the Oxfordshire facility to Akotiri in Cyprus, where UK troops are stationed. A Palestine Action spokesperson condemned British actions saying: "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. "By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
