Major Security Breach at RAF Brize Norton Triggers Urgent UK Military Review
A significant security breach occurred at RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest Royal Air Force station, in the early hours of Friday, June 20, 2025. Pro-Palestinian activists associated with the group Palestine Action reportedly gained access to the Oxfordshire airbase and vandalised two military aircraft, spraying them with red paint. The incident has triggered an immediate security review across all UK military bases and the wider defence estate, while also leading the Home Secretary to announce plans to potentially proscribe the group Palestine Action under terrorism legislation.
Footage released by Palestine Action purported to show individuals inside the base during darkness, with one seen riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager aircraft. The activists allegedly used repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the jet engines of two Voyagers, aircraft crucial for strategic air transport and refuelling. The red paint was said to symbolise Palestinian bloodshed. The group claimed they evaded security and successfully put the refuelling tankers “out of service,” also alleging they caused “further damage” with crowbars, though the extent of this unconfirmed damage remains unclear.
Government Condemnation and Investigation Underway
The incident drew swift condemnation from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer labelled the actions “disgraceful” and an “act of vandalism.” Defence Secretary John Healey expressed being “deeply disturbed” and confirmed he had ordered both an investigation into the specific breach and a wider review of security protocols across the entire UK defence estate.
The investigation is being led by South East counter terrorism police, working alongside Thames Valley Police and the Ministry of Defence Police, as they seek to determine the precise circumstances of the breach and locate those responsible. RAF engineers are assessing the damage to the two impounded Voyager aircraft, which could potentially take them out of service for a number of days and incur significant repair costs.
Activists’ Claims vs. Official Stance
Palestine Action justified their actions by claiming Britain is an “active participant” in the Gaza conflict, citing alleged military cargo shipments, spy flights over Gaza, and the refuelling of US and Israeli fighter jets. They argued that by damaging the planes, they were “directly interven[ing] in the genocide.”
However, Downing Street and defence sources maintained that the incident did not disrupt any planned aircraft movements or stop any operations at the base. A senior RAF source and a former RAF deputy commander countered Palestine Action’s specific claims regarding the targeted aircraft, stating that RAF Voyagers are primarily used for passenger transport or fuel movement and do not possess the necessary connectors to refuel Israeli or US jets, nor have they been used in support of Israeli forces. Voyagers in the Middle East are used to refuel RAF Typhoon jets targeting ISIS and Houthi rebels.
Security Concerns and Potential Proscription
The ease with which activists reportedly breached the perimeter of a critical military installation like RAF Brize Norton – a base serving as a central hub for flights including those to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, used for reconnaissance flights over Gaza – has raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of UK military infrastructure. A Tory MP and former Army officer described the breach as “absolutely staggering.”
In a significant development following the incident, the Home Secretary announced the intention to move to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. If approved by Parliament, this would make membership of the group illegal. The Home Secretary holds the power to proscribe groups “concerned with terrorism,” a move supported by figures like former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and others who view the group’s actions as “politically motivated criminality.” Conversely, groups like Amnesty International UK have expressed deep concern about using counter-terrorism powers against protest groups.
Palestine Action has been active in targeting arms companies since the start of the current conflict in Gaza and previously claimed responsibility for a similar incident involving a US military plane in Ireland. The Home Secretary’s proposed proscription marks a potential escalation in the UK government’s response to the group’s activities.
