Counter-terrorism officers detain four after damage to military aircraft
Four individuals have been taken into custody by counter-terrorism police after two military aircraft were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton. The incident, which occurred on 20 June, has been claimed by the campaign group Palestine Action.
Authorities from Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) confirmed the arrests took place in London and Newbury, Berkshire, on Thursday.
A 29-year-old woman and two men, aged 36 and 24, all from London or with no fixed address, were detained under suspicion of committing, preparing, or instigating acts of terrorism. Additionally, a 41-year-old woman, also of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
CTPSE stated: “CTPSE have arrested four people in connection with an investigation into an incident in which aircraft were damaged in Oxfordshire.”
“A 29-year-old woman of no fixed abode, and two men, aged 36 and 24, both from London, were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
“A 41-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
“The arrests, which took place yesterday in Newbury, Berkshire, and in London, are in connection with an incident in the early hours of Friday (20/6) during which damage was caused to two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton.
“Those arrested are currently in police custody while enquiries are ongoing.”
WATCH
Pro-Palestinian activists broke into RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest airbase, and vandalized two Airbus Voyager refueling aircraft pic.twitter.com/GysoAWxEOq
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 20, 2025
Footage previously shared online by Palestine Action appears to show individuals infiltrating the Oxfordshire base. One person is seen riding an electric scooter directly up to a Voyager refuelling aircraft before spray-painting its engine.
In the wake of the incident, the Home Secretary declared plans to proscribe Palestine Action. Once enforced, any support for the group could result in criminal charges, carrying sentences of up to 14 years.
However, this move has ignited significant backlash from human rights organisations. Both Amnesty International and Liberty have condemned the proposal.
Amnesty stated: “The UK has an overly broad definition of terrorism and proscribing a direct-action protest group like Palestine Action risks an unlawful interference with the fundamental rights of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.”
“It should be remembered that proscribing Palestine Action not only makes membership of the organisation a criminal offence, through broadly worded speech offences such as ‘glorification’ it puts at risk the free speech rights of many other activists who are deeply concerned about the plight of Palestinians in the context of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
Investigations continue as all four remain in custody.
