Overview

• On the night of June 19, two Palestine Action members evaded RAF Brize Norton guards on electric scooters and used fire extinguishers and crowbars to spray red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager refuelling aircraft.
• The Ministry of Defence condemned the incident as "vandalism of Royal Air Force assets" and said it is working with Thames Valley Police and the MoD Police on an active criminal investigation.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the breach "disgraceful" and underscored the need to support personnel at Britain’s principal air transport and refuelling hub.
• RAF Brize Norton serves as the backbone of the UK’s strategic air mobility, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus where the government has recently deployed extra Typhoon jets and tanker aircraft.
• A full security review has been launched across the defence estate to strengthen base defences and prevent future incursions.