In early Friday morning, pro-Palestinian activists broke into RAF Brize Norton, launching a bold and coordinated protest. Video footage posted online by the group Palestine Action shows individuals riding scooters across the Oxfordshire airbase targeting two military Airbus Voyager aircraft.
Using repurposed fire extinguishers, they sprayed red paint directly into the engines. The RAF Brize Norton protest sparked swift condemnation from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who labeled the actions disgraceful and an act of vandalism.
Defense sources confirmed engineers are now assessing damage, though they do not expect the incident to halt military operations. The Ministry of Defence condemned the breach and announced a security review for all UK military installations.
They collaborate with Thames Valley Police, leading the investigation and searching for suspects. Palestine Action claimed responsibility, saying the tankers were put out of service and criticized the UK’s military cooperation with Israel.
The RAF has confirmed that the Voyager aircraft were not involved in refueling Israeli jets, stating their role is limited to missions against ISIS and operations in the Red Sea. Despite a strong perimeter fence, regular patrols, and cameras, activists operated freely within the base for some time.
Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois criticized the breach as reprehensible, saying it raises questions about how such access was possible. Footage also shows the group allegedly damaging equipment with crowbars, though this wasn’t visible in body cam clips.
The Vespina aircraft used by the prime minister remained untouched during the incident. Security experts, including former Navy head Lord West, called the breach extremely worrying due to broader national security concerns.
