Palestine Action activists have bee pictured giving triumphant salutes as they arrived in court today accused of carrying out a £7million e-scooter attack on RAF warplanes.
The four alleged members of the controversial protest group Palestine Action were remanded in custody over the sabotage attack at RAF Brize Norton in the early hours of June 20.
Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Jony Cink, 24, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22, all appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon charged with conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
Before they appeared in front of a judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, MailOnline can reveal the activists photographed themselves making triumphant gestures while in the back of a prison van.
Jeronymides-Norie was pictured making a fist bump movement and a peace sign, while Chiaramello peered through a heart-shaped sign he made with his hand.
The charges relate to an incident in the early hours of June 20, when two Airbus Voyager aircraft at the Oxfordshire base — vital to UK military operations — were seriously damaged in what authorities describe as a coordinated break-in.
Today, the court heard that the suspects were allegedly involved in an operation that saw individuals use electric scooters to breach the secure perimeter of RAF Brize Norton, before targeting two military aircraft with spray paint, crowbars, and repurposed fire extinguishers.
The defendants spoke only to confirm their names and were not asked to enter pleas.
Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35, appeared to make a fist bump gesture while in the back of the custody van
Lewie Chiaramello peered through a heart-shaped sign he made with his hands
Jeronymides-Norie and his co-defendants are all charged over a £7million attack on RAF planes at Brize Norton on June 20
(L-R) Jony Cink, 24, Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Lewie Chiaramello and Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35, appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, London today
This is one of the RAF air-to-air military planes that was vandalised at Brize Norton last month
The red paint could also be seen on the runway, while protesters claimed they left a Palestine flag behind
Prosecutor Richard Link said the charges came after a serious incident of criminal damage was reported on June 20.
Each defendant is heavily involved in Palestine Action, he added.
He told the court that as far as the prosecution is aware, they live ‘transient lifestyles’.
Footage posted online by Palestine Action shortly after the incident shows a figure calmly riding a scooter along the runway, spraying paint into a jet engine before fleeing the scene.
District judge Daniel Sternberg said: ‘I with holdbail. Therefore you will be remanded to custody until your appearance in the Crown Court on the 18th July.’
As the four defendants were led away, their supporters in the gallery began shouting ‘Free Palestine’. One woman could be heard crying.
One of the defendants kissed his hands towards the supporters as people shouted ‘We love you Daniel’.
The case comes just one day after the House of Commons voted to officially proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Protesters outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday waved Palestinian flags
The protesters supporting the activists clapped and cheered as a prison van, believed to be holding the accused, arrived at court
Footage shows two protesters riding electric scooters across the runway at RAF Brize Norton
This is the moment red paint was allegedly sprayed into the turbine engines of the vital aircraft
Proscription will require Yvette Cooper to lay an order in Parliament, which must then be debated and approved by both MPs and peers.
The motion was passed by a majority of 359 votes — with 385 in favour and 26 against — and is now due to be debated by the House of Lords on Thursday.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said this week: ‘The attack at RAF Brize Norton was just the latest episode in Palestine Action’s long history of harmful activity.’
He added: ‘Palestine Action has orchestrated a nationwide campaign of property damage featuring attacks that have resulted in serious damage to property and crossed the threshold from direct criminal action into terrorism.’
Following the June 20 sabotage, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) launched a major investigation, arresting the four defendants in London and Newbury on suspicion of terrorist offences.
A 41-year-old woman, also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been bailed until September 19, while a 23-year-old man was released without charge.
In a defiant statement after the attack, Palestine Action claimed responsibility and said: ‘Britain isn’t just complicit, it’s an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East.
‘By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.’
The Ministry of Defence condemned the incident, stating: ‘The UK’s defence estate is vital to our national security and this Government will not tolerate those who put that security at risk.’
RAF Brize Norton, the largest RAF base in the UK, is a strategic hub for air transport and aerial refuelling, with aircraft regularly flying to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The base employs 5,800 service personnel, along with hundreds of civilian staff and contractors.
The four defendants will next appear at the Old Bailey on July 18.
