Six arrested after drone protest at RAF Waddington

UAVs are remotely controlled from the MoD base for use in Afghanistan against the Taliban

Six protesters have been arrested after breaking into RAF Waddington, from where drones used to target insurgents in Afghanistan are remotely controlled.

The group, which entered through a fence around the Lincolnshire at 8am and included a Catholic priest and an Anglican priest, managed to set up banners and plant a “peace garden” consisting of a number of shrubs before they were arrested.

Supporters of the six, who were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, claim that police later visited homes in London and elsewhere and seized computer equipment.

Among those detained was Chris Cole, a blogger and co-ordinator of the Drone Campaign Network, who said: “To build real peace and security in our world we need to breech the silence and secrecy that surrounds remote warfare and expose the impact of the drone wars on global peace and security as well as the lives of ordinary Afghans.”

According to a statement issued by the campaign group, Disarm the Drones, the others who were arrested were: Martin Newell, a Catholic priest; Dr Keith Hebden, an Anglican priest, Susan Clarkson, a Quaker; Henrietta Cullinan, a teacher in …read more