Dozens of anti-war campaigners chanted ‘hands off Iran’ in a protest at RAF Fairford.
The demonstration started shortly before midday today (Saturday), with police descended on the village to ensure the event remained peaceful.
Protesters gathered in Fairford High Street before marching to the crash gate at the Whelford end of RAF Fairford’s runway – where they will remain for some hours.
It comes after the UK Government gave the United States Air Force access to the site as a primary forward operating location for heavy bomber aircraft.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said they fully respect the democratic right to protest and have a long history of facilitating peaceful demonstrations.
They said: “While we will enable lawful peaceful protest, we must also balance peoples’ rights of freedom of expression and assembly, with those of the wider public to go about their personal and professional life without disruption.
“As a result, we will not hesitate in taking action against anyone who commits any unlawful act.”
Several road closures have been implemented by Gloucestershire Highways. Residents have been advised to expect disruption due to the march and associated traffic restrictions.
The protest has been organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War Coalition and members of Fairford Action.
Campaigners say they are calling on the British government to close United States military bases in Britain, including RAF Fairford, amid concerns about the use of the site in relation to operations involving Iran.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament General Secretary Sophie Bolt said: “The British government is complicit in these illegal attacks on Iran.
“As targets are often assigned or updated during a bomber’s flight, the British government cannot confirm that these planes aren’t leaving to commit war crimes when they’re rolling down the runway.
“While Trump makes nuclear threats and promises to attack civilian infrastructure if his demands aren’t met, Starmer has been shamefully silent, whilst enabling war crimes.
“Bases like RAF Fairford and RAF Lakenheath are the physical embodiment of Britain’s military alliance and nuclear subordination to the US.
“That’s why we need as many people as possible supporting our call to send the bombers home, shut down the bases, and kick out Trump’s nukes from Britain!”
Stop the War Coalition Convenor Lindsey German said: “Trump and Netanyahu have been committing war crimes on a daily basis and while Keir Starmer claims the UK is not party to their illegal bombing of Iran, he has been allowing US bombers to fly from RAF Fairford and from Diego Garcia.
“This makes him directly complicit in these crimes, and that’s why we are calling for the biggest possible mobilisation outside the gates of Fairford on Saturday.
“Trump is a barbarian and the British government should say so and stop allowing its bases to be used by the US.
“The British people, the majority of whom oppose war on Iran, cannot and will not be made to pay for Trump’s wars. He must be driven out of office and Starmer alongside him, because he is in this up to his neck.”
