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Four members of the activist group Palestine Action were scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, following a break-in at a Royal Air Force base in southern England that has prompted the UK government to initiate steps to outlaw the organisation.
The incident, which took place last week, saw two aircraft vandalised with red paint, reportedly causing £7 million in damage. In response, the Home Office announced plans to proscribe the protest group, describing the offence as serious enough to merit terrorism-related charges.
The accused—Amy Gardiner-Gibson (29), Daniel Jeronymides-Norie (35), Jony Cink (24), and Lewie Chiaramello (22) – were formally charged on Wednesday with conspiring to trespass on a restricted site with intent to compromise national security, as well as conspiracy to cause criminal damage. They remain in custody and were due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London.
A fifth individual, a 41-year-old woman, was arrested on suspicion of aiding the suspects but has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the government’s intention to outlaw Palestine Action, which would make membership or support of the group a criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years. The decision follows a series of protests allegedly orchestrated by the group, including actions at the Thales defence plant in Glasgow in 2022, and further incidents targeting Instro Precision in Kent and Elbit Systems in Bristol last year.
Palestine Action has condemned the proposed ban, describing it as an extreme and disproportionate response. The group is challenging the move in the High Court, with an emergency hearing scheduled for Friday. Their legal challenge is supported by Amnesty International and other human rights organisations.
