Police have arrested 13 people after peace protesters blocked the gates to an RAF airbase in a protest against the war in Iran.
The RAF Lakenheath base in Suffolk, which is used by the US Air Force, was targeted this morning by anti-war protesters, who locked themselves onto a car to block the main entrance gates for six hours, beginning at 6am on Tuesday.
The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace said that activists also locked themselves to a large multi-coloured peace symbol as well as each other.
A second gate was blocked for four hours from 6am, before re-opening at 10am, as the nuclear disarmament group said it followed a ‘week-long international peace camp at the base’ that ended on Monday.
In the statement, the group said that fighter and bomber planes from RAF Lakenheath had been deployed in Iran, and described the war as an ‘illegal war’.
Suffolk Police said: ‘On Tuesday, April 7 in Lakenheath, police arrested 13 people who had resumed protests outside the RAF base.
‘The 13 were taken to investigation centres in Bury St Edmunds and Martlesham for questioning.
‘The arrests relate to locking on, conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, attempting to lock on, or criminal damage.
Pictured: Police arresting one protester at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk on Tuesday
The protesters were from the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, who said in a statement that fighter and bomber planes from RAF Lakenheath had been deployed in Iran, and described the war as an ‘illegal war’
The protesters locked themselves onto vehicles blocking the main gates, locked themselves onto each other, and onto to a multi-coloured peace symbol
‘Officers arrived at the base soon after 6am following reports of protesters locking themselves to their own vehicles outside the main gate and gathering at two other entrances.
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‘One gate was cleared by around 10am this morning, the others by early afternoon.’
The force said the incident ’caused disruption to motorists, with some road closures implemented during the protest as officers assisted with traffic management’.
A Suffolk Police spokesperson added that officers would ‘remain on site until further notice’.
The 13 arrests on Tuesday follow seven arrests by peace protesters on Sunday at the same Suffolk RAF base.
Five men and two women were arrested at a peace encampment outside the main gate of Lakenheath airbase on April 5, on suspicion of supporting banned group Palestine Action during anti-war protests.
It followed reports from some media outlets that the US fighter jet shot down in Iran last week had taken off from the Lakenheath base.
In a statement, Lakenheath Alliance For Peace said the arrests were made after retired Colonel Chris Romberg made a speech to protesters.
The High Court ruled the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful in February, but also granted the Home Office leave to appeal against the decision, leaving the proscription in place pending the outcome of the appeal.
