The UK government is preparing to formally ban the activist group Palestine Action after members infiltrated RAF Brize Norton, the largest RAF base in the country.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to present a motion in Parliament next week to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000, which would make any affiliation with the organization a criminal offense.
The move follows a dramatic security breach, in which pro-Palestinian activists gained access to military aircraft and sprayed red paint on two planes.
Footage released by the group shows a protester riding a scooter up to an Airbus Voyager and spraying paint into one of its engines.
RAF base breach prompts terrorism investigation
South East Counter Terrorism Police, along with Thames Valley Police and the Ministry of Defence, are investigating the incident. Officials confirmed the breach occurred early Friday morning and announced a full review of security protocols at the military bases across the UK.
Greg Bagwell, a former deputy commander of the RAF and a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), clarified that the targeted aircraft are not equipped to support Israeli or U.S. military missions. “They have the wrong connectors,” he said, indicating they are primarily used for personnel and fuel transport.
Palestine Action defends protest at RAF base
In a public statement, Palestine Action defended their actions as morally justified civil disobedience, arguing that the UK government’s continued military support of Israel leaves citizens no option but direct action.
“If they want to ban us, they ban us all,” the group wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The group has previously targeted arms companies and military logistics hubs, including claiming responsibility for vandalizing a U.S. military aircraft in Ireland in May.
The RAF base at Brize Norton now becomes a key symbol in their broader campaign against UK military involvement abroad.
RAF base operations face scrutiny after security failure
RAF Brize Norton plays a central role in the UK’s strategic air operations, supporting air transport and aerial refuelling. It also manages flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, from where surveillance missions over Gaza have been launched.
The incident has prompted a wider review of physical and operational security measures at all RAF bases. Military officials are now working to identify vulnerabilities and reinforce protocols to prevent similar intrusions in the future.
RAF base protest draws political and human rights backlash
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the protest “disgraceful,” while former Home Secretary Suella Braverman praised the planned ban as “absolutely the correct decision.” Both emphasized the need for a firm stance on national security and public order.
However, human rights groups including Amnesty International UK expressed deep concern about the use of anti-terror laws to restrict protest. In a statement on X, Amnesty warned that criminalizing Palestine Action could have a chilling effect on free expression and peaceful activism.
According to the UK government’s list of proscribed terrorist organisations, 81 groups are currently banned under the Terrorism Act. If approved by Parliament, the designation would make support or promotion of Palestine Action a criminal offense under British law.
