Four people have been remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court following an incident at RAF Brize Norton claimed by the group Palestine Action in which two aircraft were damaged. The activists were charged by counter terrorism police yesterday following the incident, during which two Voyager aircraft were damaged. Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Jony Cink, 24, both of no fixed abode, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22, both of London appeared at a hearing today.
The action, which was claimed by the group Palestine Action, caused £7million worth of damage to the aircraft on June 20. Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) said the four had been charged with conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage. CTPSE added that a 41-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender had been released on bail until September 19.
A 23-year-old man was released without charge.
It comes as MPs backed the Government’s move to ban the group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation on Wednesday.
The Bill passed in the Commons by 385 aye votes to 26 noes, a majority of 359 in favour of proscribing the group under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The motion is expected to be debated and voted on by the House of Lords on Thursday before it becomes law.
If passed, the new rules would mean it would be a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison to be a member of the direct action group or to support it.
On Wednesday, four people, including “a man who blocked the gates of Downing Street with his mobility scooter”, were arrested following a Westminster protest by Palestine Action, the Metropolitan Police said.
The demonstration took place outside of Parliament as MPs approved the ban.
Security minister Dan Jarvis told MPs that protesters expressing support for Palestine “have always been able to, and can continue to do so”.