UK: Pro-Palestinian Activists Breach RAF Base, Vandalize Military Aircraft

Pro-Palestinian activists infiltrated the RAF Brize Norton airbase in Oxfordshire and vandalized two military aircraft by spray-painting them before fleeing undetected. Following the breach, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the act as “unacceptable,” labeling it an act of vandalism. A video released online by Palestine Action on Friday (June 20, 2025) shows two individuals moving stealthily inside the base at night, with one riding a scooter up to an Airbus Voyager and spraying its engine. The police later confirmed that specialized officers are investigating the incident in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). RAF Brize Norton, the largest airbase in the UK, employs over 6,000 workers and houses the UK’s refueling fleet, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The military aviation has conducted reconnaissance missions over Gaza from the Cyprus base. Downing Street stated that the incident did not disrupt any scheduled flights or operations. Defense Minister John Healey expressed being “very disturbed” by the event and ordered a thorough investigation and broader security review. Palestine Action claimed that the activists bypassed security measures and asserted that they rendered the refueling planes inoperable. However, RAF engineers are assessing the damages, and a MoD source told BBC that the incident is not expected to impact operations. In a statement, a representative of Palestine Action mentioned that despite public condemnation of the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly surveillance aircraft over Gaza, and refuel fighter jets for the US and Israel. The protesters avoided vandalizing the Vespina aircraft, used by the prime minister for international trips, which was also stationed at the base. The base is surrounded by a large perimeter fence equipped with security cameras, sensors, and manned checkpoints, with periodic patrols around the facility. However, as a MoD source told BBC, these measures couldn’t fully secure the expansive airbase.