THREE people have been arrested on suspicion of a terror offence after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in a protest claimed by campaign group Palestine Action.
Palestine Action took credit for the incident where individuals sprayed red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft after breaking into RAF Brize Norton last week.
It triggered the UK Government taking steps to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation, with a draft proscription order to be laid in Parliament next week.
The ban under terror laws will make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, which will be punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Video sent to The National by the activist group showed two people on electric scooters crossing the runway of the base before spraying the engines of the jets with repurposed fire extinguishers.
The group said they also used crowbars to cause further damage to the military planes.
One of the planes hit is believed to be the UK’s VIP jet, often used to fly prime ministers and Royal Family members on official visits.
A 29-year-old woman and two men aged 36 and 24 have been arrested, Counter Terrorism Policing South East said, with a 41-year old woman also arrested "on suspicion of assisting an offender".
Counter Terrorism Policing South East said in a statement: “A 29-year-old woman of no fixed abode, and two men; aged 36 and 24, both from London, were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
“A 41-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
“The arrests, which took place yesterday [Thursday] in Newbury, Berkshire, and in London, are in connection with an incident in the early hours of [last] Friday during which damage was caused to two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton.
“Those arrested are currently in police custody while enquiries are ongoing.”
