Police Update After Seven Arrests at RAF Lakenheath Base
Police have issued an update after seven individuals were arrested outside RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk during an anti-nuclear weapons protest over the weekend.
The arrests took place on Sunday afternoon as demonstrators gathered at the entrance to the base, which is operated by the United States Air Force. The protest, organized by a coalition of peace and anti-nuclear groups, drew dozens of participants who called for the removal of nuclear weapons from the site. RAF Lakenheath has been at the center of renewed controversy in recent months amid reports that the United States is considering stationing nuclear warheads at the facility once again, decades after they were removed.
According to Suffolk Police, officers were called to the scene at around 1:30 p.m. after receiving reports of protesters blocking access to the base. A total of seven people were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and obstruction of the highway.
In a statement issued on Monday morning, a police spokesperson said: “We can confirm that seven individuals were arrested in connection with an incident at RAF Lakenheath on Sunday, April 28. Officers engaged with protesters to facilitate lawful demonstration but took action when individuals crossed onto restricted areas and blocked key access points to the base.”
The arrested individuals, who have not been named, were taken into custody for questioning and have since been released on bail while investigations continue.
Superintendent Jane Topping, speaking on behalf of Suffolk Police, added: “We respect the right to peaceful protest and worked closely with organizers beforehand to ensure the safety of all involved. However, when actions cross the line into criminal activity and pose risks to public safety or critical infrastructure, we must respond accordingly.”
Organizers of the demonstration criticized the arrests, saying that the protest had been peaceful and that any disruption was minor and symbolic. A spokesperson for the campaign group, Lakenheath Action for Peace, said: “We are deeply concerned by the heavy-handed policing of a nonviolent demonstration aimed at raising awareness of the dangers posed by nuclear weapons. Our actions were peaceful, and we stand by our message that RAF Lakenheath should not be home to weapons of mass destruction.”
The demonstration at Lakenheath comes amid heightened tensions globally, with campaigners warning that any move to reintroduce nuclear arms to UK soil would escalate the risks of conflict.
RAF Lakenheath, located near Brandon in Suffolk, is home to the US Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing and has long been a strategically significant base for NATO operations. While there has been no official confirmation from the Ministry of Defence or the Pentagon regarding the storage of nuclear weapons at the site, a leaked US document last year hinted at preparations being made for their possible return.
Local MP Matt Hancock has previously called for transparency on the issue, urging the government to “reassure communities that any deployment of nuclear weapons would be subject to full scrutiny and public accountability.”
Suffolk Police said their investigation into the protest remains ongoing and confirmed that a file will be prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service in due course.
Anyone with additional information related to the protest or the arrests is encouraged to contact Suffolk Police on 101, quoting incident number 252 of April 28.
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