A significant security breach at RAF Brize Norton, one of the UK’s largest and busiest Royal Air Force stations, has triggered an urgent security review across all UK military bases. The incident occurred when pro-Palestinian activists gained access to the Oxfordshire airbase and vandalised two military aircraft.
Footage shared online by the group Palestine Action on Friday showed two individuals inside the base under the cover of darkness. One activist was seen riding an electric scooter towards an Airbus Voyager aircraft, which serves as an air-to-air refuelling tanker, and spraying red paint into its jet engine using a repurposed fire extinguisher. Red paint, which the group stated symbolises “Palestinian bloodshed,” was also reportedly sprayed on the runway, and a Palestine flag was left behind. Palestine Action claimed the activists also caused “further damage” with crowbars, though this was not clearly visible in the provided video. The group asserted that both individuals successfully evaded security and arrest following the action.
Official Response and Political Condemnation
The breach has drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum and prompted an immediate investigation by Thames Valley Police, working closely with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Police and RAF personnel.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the action “disgraceful” and an “act of vandalism.” Defence Secretary John Healey expressed being “really disturbed” by the incident and confirmed he had ordered both a specific investigation into the Brize Norton breach and a wider review of security protocols across the entire defence estate. Healey emphasised that military aircraft are crucial for global security and peace operations, arguing the vandalism does nothing to support efforts towards peace in the Middle East.
Downing Street stated that all security breaches are treated with utmost seriousness and that criminal activity will be investigated and prosecuted. However, No 10 also confirmed the incident did not disrupt any planned aircraft movements or halt operations at the base.
Senior political figures echoed the condemnation. Lord West, a Labour peer on UK security and former head of the Royal Navy, described the break-in as “extremely worrying” and a “real problem” for national security, stating such breaches “can’t be allowed to happen at all.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch deemed the breach “deeply concerning,” characterising it as “politically motivated criminality” rather than lawful protest and urging an end to tolerating groups that “seek to undermine our society.” Shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois called interference with aircraft engines “totally reprehensible” and raised “serious questions for the MoD to answer” regarding how protesters accessed a supposedly secure base. Local Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard labelled the actions “stupid and dangerous,” calling for investigations into how it occurred and future preventative measures.
Palestine Action’s Claims and MoD’s Rebuttal
Palestine Action stated their motivation was to protest perceived British complicity in the “Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East.” A spokesperson for the group claimed Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza, and refuel US and Israeli fighter jets, asserting the UK is an “active participant.” By damaging the planes, they claimed to have “directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.” They stated their intention was to put the air-to-air refuelling tankers “out of service.”
However, the Ministry of Defence strongly refuted Palestine Action’s claims about the use of the aircraft. An MoD spokesman condemned the vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. A senior RAF source explicitly disputed the group’s understanding of RAF operations, stating the UK is not supporting Israeli operations and these specific aircraft have not been used in support of Israeli forces. Instead, RAF Voyager aircraft have been used in the Middle East to refuel RAF Typhoon jets involved in operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. RAF engineers are currently assessing the damage, with a defence source indicating the incident is not expected to affect overall operations.
Security Context of RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton serves as the central hub for the UK’s strategic air transport and refuelling operations. This includes crucial flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, from where the air force has conducted reconnaissance flights over Gaza and where aircraft like RAF Typhoons and Puma helicopters are based. The base houses approximately 5,800 service personnel, 300 civilian staff, and 1,200 contractors, highlighting its scale and importance.
The base perimeter is equipped with security measures, including a large fence, security cameras, sensors, manned checkpoints, and patrols. However, a defence source acknowledged that these measures might not provide complete coverage across the extensive site, potentially explaining how the activists were able to gain entry.
The incident has prompted serious questions about the security of vital military installations. Ben Obese-Jecty, a Conservative MP and former Army officer, described the breach as “absolutely staggering,” particularly in the context of heightened global tensions and vulnerabilities seen at other airbases globally.
Palestine Action has a history of engaging in similar direct actions, predominantly targeting arms companies and facilities they deem complicit in the conflict. In May, the group claimed responsibility for a similar incident involving the daubing of a US military plane in Ireland. Thames Valley Police confirmed inquiries are ongoing to locate and apprehend those responsible for the Brize Norton breach.
