In a breach that has raised grave security concerns, two Royal Air Force jets were vandalized by Palestine Action activists at RAF Brize Norton, one of the United Kingdom's most secure military bases.
According to Breitbart, the early Friday morning incident involved activists sneaking onto the base with e-scooters, damaging aircraft with tools and paint, then escaping undetected, prompting a counter-terrorism investigation and political calls for stronger action against the group.
RAF Brize Norton, located in Oxfordshire, was the target of a surprise infiltration by Palestine Action, a direct-action activist movement known for anti-Israel sabotage operations. The group accessed the facility overnight into Friday and took responsibility for damaging two Airbus Voyager aircraft, key assets in the UK's military air transport fleet.
Officials described how the activists used modified fire extinguishers filled with paint, along with crowbars, to damage the planes. Video footage released by the group shows masked individuals riding e-scooters across the tarmac, one of them spraying a liquid directly into an engine. They also left symbols on the runway and raised a Palestinian flag as part of their protest, which they described as “decommissioning two military planes” allegedly aiding what they called a “genocide” against Palestinians.
Base Intrusion Prompts Major Alarm Over Security Failures
The intrusion sparked alarm due to RAF Brize Norton’s legal status as a protected site under UK national security legislation. The base is home to the RAF's only air-to-air refueling fleet and plays a major role in aeromedical care and VIP transport missions.
One image shared online showed an activist wearing a GoPro camera while riding toward a jet on the base’s airfield. The group remained undetected throughout the operation and exited the site without confrontation. By 6 p.m. Friday, local police had handed the investigation over to the UK's Counter Terrorism Command. As of more than 12 hours after the event, no arrests had been made, fueling criticism over the lack of immediate response and accountability.
Calls Grow For Terrorist Classification Of Activist Group
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the action as “disgraceful” and emphasized public support for the country's armed forces. Political leaders, including Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, issued calls to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organization.
“Palestine Action must be proscribed as a terrorist organisation after the attack on RAF planes at Brize Norton,” said Farage following the update from the Ministry of Defence. The MoD announced plans to review current security measures at installations nationwide. The raid did not disrupt scheduled military operations, according to The Daily Telegraph. The two affected Voyager aircraft are largely dedicated to Operation Shader, the UK's ongoing mission targeting ISIS operations in Iraq and Syria.
Escalating Pattern Of Sabotage Since October 2023
Palestine Action has staged similar acts of sabotage across the UK and Ireland since October 7, 2023. Their campaigns have primarily focused on defense manufacturers and infrastructure supporting military campaigns involving Israel or the United States.
In June alone, activists caused more than £1 million in damages at a Glasgow facility for submarine parts, entered a Kent weapons factory and struck equipment with metal tools, and previously rammed a Bristol arms site with a stolen prison van during another raid involving sledgehammers. In November, allied group Workers for a Free Palestine blocked entry to a BAE Systems plant linked to the F-35 fighter jet program, accusing collaborators of contributing to what they allege are Israeli war crimes.
Military And Intelligence Agencies Rethink Domestic Threats
The recent wave of activist-led sabotage has revived historical concerns about internal threats during times of geopolitical tensions. Intelligence services previously considered holding radical domestic dissidents in secure locations during national emergencies, like war with a major power.
While such practices have not been confirmed in today’s security protocol, officials have become increasingly alarmed by the diffuse and unpredictable nature of left-wing sabotage networks operating on UK soil since late 2023. RAF Brize Norton’s Commanding Officer, Group Captain Louise Henton OBE, deactivated her social media accounts shortly after the story broke, though the Ministry of Defence has not provided further comment on her decision or its relation to the infiltration.
Security Overhaul Underway As Political Pressure Mounts
The Ministry of Defence announced it would reevaluate security protocols at Brize Norton and other military sites. The review aims to identify how the activists breached protected infrastructure without detection or confrontation. Experts warn that if no further safeguards are added, future sabotage incidents could lead to more significant operational disruptions. National defence logistics, they argue, depend heavily on the rapid deployment and safety of strategic assets such as the Airbus Voyager fleet.
Sheriff John McCormick, reflecting on a separate high-profile raid in Scotland, described the tactics activists now employ. “They entered the building through the roof and caused damage, including to parts essential to submarines,” he said, highlighting the increasingly audacious methods used across the UK.
