Two pro-Palestinian activists gained unauthorised access to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Friday morning, reportedly causing damage to military aircraft and raising serious concerns about base security.
The group Palestine Action claimed responsibility, stating that its members entered the base undetected, used repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the turbine engines of two RAF Airbus Voyager aircraft, and inflicted further damage with crowbars. Video footage posted online shows two individuals crossing the runway on electric scooters, leaving red paint across the tarmac and a Palestinian flag near the aircraft before leaving the site.
BREAKING: Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military aircrafts.
Flights depart daily from the base to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
From Cyprus, British planes collect intelligence, refuel fighter jets and transport weapons to commit genocide in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/zzmFqGKW8N
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 20, 2025
RAF Brize Norton is the UK’s largest air base and houses a core fleet of Airbus Voyager aircraft, which are used for both air-to-air refuelling and personnel transport. One of the damaged planes is understood to be part of the fleet used for diplomatic and royal travel. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not confirmed the extent of the damage, though it stated that no military operations or scheduled deployments were affected by the incident.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson condemned the action as “vandalism of Royal Air Force assets” and confirmed that an investigation is underway in cooperation with Thames Valley Police and the MoD Police. The spokesperson added, “Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain… It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.”
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said the force had received a report of criminal damage at the base and that inquiries were ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
Palestine Action, which has previously targeted defence-linked sites, stated that the action aimed to disrupt the UK’s role in supporting Israeli operations in Gaza. In a public statement, the group said: “Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets… Britain isn’t just complicit – it’s an active participant in the Gaza genocide.”
The group described the attack on the aircraft as a form of direct intervention. “By decommissioning two military planes,” it said, “Palestine Action have directly intervened to break the chains of oppression.”
The alleged breach has sparked political reactions. Former Defence Secretary Sir Grant Shapps said: “Storming an RAF base isn’t protest – it’s a national security breach. A full security review is the bare minimum.” Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois described the act as “totally reprehensible,” noting that the interference could have endangered aircraft used in refuelling missions and troop transport.
Lord Walney, former Government adviser on extremism, called for the group to be banned. He said:
“With Iran’s nuclear programme on the brink and Britain facing rising threats from abroad, we shouldn’t let these criminal activists act like the Ayatollah’s apparatchiks by attacking the country from within.”
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, described the breach as “a shocking lapse of security” and criticised what he characterised as the activists’ alignment with Iranian interests.
The incident takes place against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East. On 13 June, Israel and Iran conducted mutual airstrikes, and UK Attorney General Richard Hermer KC has since raised concerns about the legality of Israel’s actions. Should those actions be deemed unlawful, British support for Israeli military operations could face legal constraints.
Palestine Action was founded in 2020 and has conducted a number of high-profile direct actions against British defence contractors and infrastructure it associates with Israel. Its co-founder, Richard Barnard, is facing trial on charges including criminal damage and incitement following remarks made at pro-Palestinian rallies after the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.
RAF Brize Norton is a designated protected site under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, and unauthorised entry constitutes a criminal offence. Convictions can carry custodial sentences of up to 51 weeks and fines up to £5,000.
The investigation into Friday’s breach remains ongoing.
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