Latest news with #MinistryOfDefence
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Palestine Action ‘to be banned' after vandalising planes at RAF base
The pro-Palestine group that broke into RAF Brize Norton sparking a major security review is expected to be banned by the government next week in a move which will anger campaigners. Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, is planning to proscribe Palestine Action, effectively branding it a terrorist organisation. She is preparing a written ministerial statement which will be placed before Parliament on Monday, a Whitehall source confirmed. It will then need to be enacted through new legislation. If passed, it will make becoming a member of the group illegal. The decision comes as a security review begins at military bases across the UK, after activists broke into the RAF base in Oxfordshire and sprayed two military planes with red paint. Palestine Action released a short video on Friday morning showing two people driving electric scooters unimpeded inside the airbase at night, in an embarrassing breach of Ministry of Defence (MoD) security at a site which holds transport planes used by the king and prime minister. The group said it had targeted RAF Voyager aircraft used for transport and refuelling, and that 'activists have interrupted Britain's direct participation in the commission of genocide and war crimes across the Middle East'. Footage posted online showed two people inside the Oxfordshire airbase in darkness, with one riding on a scooter up to an Airbus Voyager and spraying paint into its jet engine. After sharing the footage, 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 and Israeli fighter jets.' The group claimed its activists had evaded security and had put the air-to-air refuelling tankers 'out of service'. However, RAF engineers have been assessing the damage, with a defence source earlier telling the BBC that they did not expect the incident would affect operations. Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, condemned the action as 'disgraceful' describing it as an 'act of vandalism'. Counter terrorism police are investigating the incident alongside Thames Valley Police and the Ministry of Defence. RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The air force has conducted reconnaissance flights over Gaza out of the Cyprus base. Other groups which have been recently proscribed in the UK include Hizb-ut Tahrir, a Sunni Islamist organisation with a goal to establish a Caliphate under Shari'a law. It was banned last year by the Tory government. The Wagner group, the Russian private military company, was banned in 2023. Palestine Action has been approached for a comment.
BreakingNews.ie
10 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Security review launched in UK after Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF base
A security review has been launched across Britain's defence estate after pro-Palestinian activists broke into an RAF base and sprayed two UK military planes with red paint. Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday morning shows two people inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Advertisement The clip shows one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. 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. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 20, 2025 The UK's Ministry of Defence condemned the vandalism, while Britain's prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'disgraceful'. Downing Street said security is being reviewed across the UK's defence estate and that the Britsih government is working closely with police. A No 10 spokesman said: 'A full security review is under way at Brize Norton. Advertisement 'We are reviewing security across the whole defence estate. 'We treat all breaches of security very seriously, and where there is suspected criminal activity, we will take the necessary steps to investigate and prosecute in line with longstanding principle.' He said the incident had not disrupted any planned aircraft movements or operations. Pro-Palestinian activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire (Palestine Action/PA) A spokesman for the campaign group said: 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. Advertisement '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.' RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Footage showed one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker (Palestine Action/PA) A UK Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating. Advertisement '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.' Sir Keir said in a post on X: 'The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. Advertisement '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.' A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'We have received a report of people gaining access to RAF Brize Norton and causing criminal damage. 'An investigation has been launched and we are working with the Ministry of Defence Police and partners at RAF Brize Norton. 'Inquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest those responsible.'
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Security review launched after Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF base
A security review has been launched across the defence estate after pro-Palestinian activists broke into an RAF base and sprayed two military planes with red paint. Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday morning shows two people inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The clip shows one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. The Ministry of Defence condemned the vandalism, while Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'disgraceful'. Downing Street said security is being reviewed across the defence estate and that the Government is working closely with police. A No 10 spokesman said: 'A full security review is under way at Brize Norton. 'We are reviewing security across the whole defence estate. 'We treat all breaches of security very seriously, and where there is suspected criminal activity, we will take the necessary steps to investigate and prosecute in line with longstanding principle.' He said the incident had not disrupted any planned aircraft movements or operations. A spokesman for the campaign group 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 in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.' RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. A Ministry of Defence spokesman 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.' Sir Keir said in a post on X: 'The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. '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.' A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'We have received a report of people gaining access to RAF Brize Norton and causing criminal damage. 'An investigation has been launched and we are working with the Ministry of Defence Police and partners at RAF Brize Norton. 'Inquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest those responsible.'
CNN
10 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
11 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.'
