British counter-terrorism police have arrested four individuals in connection with a protest action by Palestine Action on June 6, in which military aircraft were vandalized at RAF Brize Norton, the largest Royal Air Force base in the United Kingdom. Authorities announced the arrests on Friday.
A 29-year-old woman, and two men aged 36 and 24 from London, were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. A fourth individual, a 41-year-old woman also with no fixed abode, was detained on suspicion of assisting an offender.
The arrests are linked to an incident in which activists from Palestine Action sprayed red paint on two Voyager military aircraft and caused further damage using crowbars. The group claimed the planes were routinely used for operations in the Middle East from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
🔴 Pro-Palestine protesters claim to have broken into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military planes.
Read more here ⬇️https://t.co/aUrX4JlSVD pic.twitter.com/SyOyUt3vPv
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 20, 2025
The June 6 incident prompted a broad security review of RAF installations and drew swift condemnation from government officials.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the act as “disgraceful” and confirmed that Palestine Action would be proscribed under the Terrorism Act, which would criminalize any form of support for the group. “The UK’s defence enterprise is vital to the nation’s national security and this government will not tolerate those that put that security at risk,” she said.
Palestine Action condemned the arrests as an attempt to stifle dissent against what it describes as the UK’s complicity in Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
In a statement, the group argued that it is being targeted for its “non-violent protests,” and noted its plan to legally challenge the designation as a terrorist organization. The group has raised over £150,000 for legal expenses and enlisted veteran human rights solicitor Gareth Peirce.
A report published by The Telegraph on June 26 revealed the group’s preparations for a wider campaign, including the formation of autonomous cells to target military installations and companies linked to Israel, such as Elbit Systems UK and UAV Tactical Systems.
The group’s co-founder Huda Ammori has previously stated, “By being security-conscious and working in small groups, we can make it difficult for the authorities to respond to individual actions by targeting the movement as a whole.”
In a recorded online meeting accessed by the newspaper, members of Palestine Action discussed tactics ranging from vandalism with sledgehammers to breaking into facilities. RAF Cranwell, RAF Barkston Heath, and RAF Valley were cited as potential targets.
