PALESTINE Action is set to be “proscribed” and “branded a terror group” by the home secretary in the coming weeks.
Activists from the pro-Palestinian group broke into RAF Brize Norton overnight in a video shared online by its members.
ITV NewsThe giant Voyager refuelling plane is seen covered in red paint[/caption]
xFootage shows the protestors appearing to spray red paint into the jet’s turbine[/caption]
The two activists freely moving around the apron at RAF Brize Norton, with one approaching an Airbus Voyager refuelling aircraftx
Yvette Cooper is now reportedly preparing to deliver a written statement to Parliament on Monday to proscribe the group, according to the BBC.
The statement, if passed, will make being a member of the group illegal.
The Home Secretary has the power to proscribe an organisation under the Terrorism Act of 2000 if she believes it is “concerned in terrorism”.
Proscription will require Ms Cooper to lay an order in Parliament, which must then be debated and approved by both MPs and peers.
It will then need to be enacted through new legislation with the drastic measure effectively branding the group a terrorist organisation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack at RAF Brize Norton as “disgraceful”.
Earlier today, footage showed two pro-Palestine activists breaking into an RAF base and vandalising two planes in a “grotesque” breach of security.
In the clip, one protester can be seen moving towards an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker while on an electric scooter.
The activist then appears to spray red paint into the rear of one of the aircraft’s two engines.
Moving the spout of the repurposed fire extinguisher around the rim of the jet engine, red paint can be seen sprayed deep into the aircraft.
Then, a loud thumping sound loud thumping sound can be heard as the camera pans to the activist’s scooter – also showing red paint on the tarmac next to the aircraft at the Oxfordshire base.
It is unclear if this sound is what the group claims was “crowbar” damage to the aircraft or just another form of damage to the engines.
The pair of activists can then be seen roaming free across the grounds of the airbase on electric scooters as they “evaded security”.
Brize Norton is the RAF’s largest airbase and home to more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel as well as the UK’s largest military aircraft.
The MoD earlier slammed the “vandalism of Royal Air Force assets” in a scathing statement.
A spokeswoman for the ministry said: “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.”
In a post on social media today condemning the UK’s military action in the Middle East, Palestine Action referenced RAF flights over Gaza departing from the force’s base – RAF Akrotiri – in Cyprus.
It also claimed its activists had put the supply planes “out of service” while managing to “evade security and arrest”.
Questions have now arisen over how two members of the public managed to break into such a high-security location.
SECURITY REVIEW
A security review has now begun at military bases across the UK, after the pro-Palestinian activists broke into the RAF base.
Hundreds commented under videos of the activists’ efforts on social media, asking how security could be “that lacking” at a major military air base.
One user said: “How in the world can Security be that lacking at a military airbase? Should require a major investigation.”
Another added: “How does a vandal on a scooter get onto a military airbase like that?
“Serious lapse of security there.”
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.”
xOne of the two Airbus Voyager aircraft which were targeted[/caption]
Brize Norton in Oxfordshire is the RAF’s biggest airbase Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
