THIS is the shocking moment two pro-Palestine activists broke into an RAF base and vandalised two planes in a “grotesque” breach of security.
The men are seen breaking into RAF Brize Norton overnight in a video shared online by group Palestine Action.
The MoD has slammed the “vandalism of Royal Air Force assets” in a scathing statement.
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.
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.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “disgraceful”.
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 can be heard as the camera shifts focus to the activist’s scooter, revealing red paint on the tarmac beside 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”.
In a social media post today criticizing the UK’s military involvement in the Middle East, the group mentioned RAF flights over Gaza that take off from RAF Akrotiri, the force’s base in Cyprus.
It also claimed its activists had put the supply planes “out of service” while managing to “evade security and arrest”.
The Ministry of Defence has said it was working closely with the police, who are investigating.
Never unprepared
Motto of RAF Regiment at Brize Norton
Lord Walney, a former government adviser on political violence and disruption, has urged the government to prohibit Palestine Action, citing their “grotesque breach of military security”.
He added: “With Iran’s nuclear programme on the brink and Britain facing rising threats from abroad, we shouldn’t let these criminal activists act like the Ayatollah’s apparatchiks by attacking the country from within.
“Employees at the workplaces they target have been systematically terrorised by Palestine Action for too long – this is the moment for ministers to proscribe the group as terrorists or enact the new sanctions recommended in my review submitted to Downing Street and the Home Office.”
Palestine Action said its two activists who broke into the huge airbase used electric scooters to get around the base.
It added that they had repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft and caused further damage using crowbars.
Questions have arisen over how two members of the public managed to break into such a high-security location.
RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Security for RAF bases typically falls under the RAF Regiment which has a permanent presence at Brize Norton with 175 personnel as part of II Squadron.
It’s motto is “Never unprepared”.
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 third exclaimed: “The fact that you can get on an airbase and get near tanker aircraft without getting arrested is absolutely amazing.”
Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty, a former Army officer, described the breach as “absolutely staggering”.
He told Sky News “Given the current heightened global tensions, the increase in activity and the recent exploitation of the vulnerability of Russian airbases by Ukraine, it is incredible that our busiest RAF base could be compromised.”
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.”
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