Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
from Lakenheath Alliance for Peace
The main gates of Lakenheath airbase in Suffolk, England were shut down for three hours on April 4 and two people arrested. Hundreds of protestors from around the country took action against the U.K.’s involvement in illegal wars and the return of nuclear weapons to the base.
Speaking at the time of her arrest about the war on Iran, one of the peace campaigners said: “Over 600 schools and over 300 medical facilities have been targeted. I cannot do anything but take action against this illegal war”.
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
The Give Peace a Chance Big Blockade was organised by Lakenheath Alliance for Peace (LAP) in conjunction with Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) as part of a six day International Peace Camp from 1st – 6th April. Hundreds joined Peace Campers to blockade the main gate of Lakenheath airbase, where a fighter jet shot down over Iran is believed to have flown out from. They came from England, Scotland, Wales, Finland and Spain. They sat in the road, sang, danced, heard speakers on war and its alternatives, and had music from renowned activist folk band Seize the Day.
During the protest a group in white make-up, dressed in red, symbolising the blood of all species, wove their way solemnly through the crowd. Fern from the Red Rebel Brigade said: “We are here for all life on earth. It’s about sharing our grief and compassion”.
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
A war veteran supporting the blockade criticised the war on Iran as illegal. Craig Raeside, who served 14 years in the Royal Engineers, said: “Veterans know. We are trained on Rules of Engagement, Geneva Convention and Genocide Convention. The US and Israel are and have been ignoring every article relating to civilian infrastructure, property and people. It’s our duty to speak up. We do not need to wait for a court to tell us what our eyes can see”.
The Alliance presented a letter for the Lakenheath base commanders at the start of the Peace Camp highlighting war crimes supported by RAF Lakenheath and nearby RAF Mildenhall. It details their disregard of International Law and concerns about U.K. control of the bases that, although used by the U.S. Air Force, are British sovereign territory and for which the U.K. is legally liable. Letter To Base Commanders 30 March 2026 – Lakenheath Alliance For Peace
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
Peace Campers have witnessed USAF planes leaving Lakenheath airbase presumably bound for the Middle East and involvement in the bombing of Iran. Several press outlets report that a F15E fighter bomber that was downed in Iran on 3rd April came from RAF Lakenheath.
LAP believes that B61-12 nuclear weapons are at RAF Lakenheath. The deployment of newly developed nuclear weapons with advanced capabilities is not compatible with the U.K.’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations and a breach of Article 1 which states: “Each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly.”
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
Bad Orders and Bad Laws: Arrests at Lakenheath Military Airbase in Suffolk
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
RAF LAKENHEATH MAIN GATES, 5TH APRIL
Lakenheath Alliance brought together colonels and peace campaigners in opposition to bad orders and bad laws. Lakenheath Airbase sees day 5 of a 6 day International Peace Camp at its gates, with Colonel Chris Romberg addressing the gathering on complicity in war crimes and participants from the International Peace Camp opposing the biggest of all war crimes, genocide, and the proscription of Palestine Action.
Seven arrests followed Colonel Chris Romberg’s talk, when a group of protestors stood wearing tabards saying “We oppose genocide, We Support Palestine Action”. The proscription makes it a criminal offence to join or support Palestine Action, and treats those who do so as if they were terrorists. Sian Aubrey, who took part in the protest, is a former special needs teacher. She said: “It’s really important that we have the right to protest. An organisation committed to preventing genocide should not be seen as terrorists”.
Chris Romberg is a descendant of Holocaust survivors who served in the British Army for over 30 years. As a Colonel he served as the Defence Attaché in the British Embassies in Jordan and Egypt at the time of the Second Intifada and the invasion and occupation of Iraq. He said: “As a former military officer, I’m shocked at the war of aggression being waged and the complicity of the British government”.
Colonel Romberg is not alone as a military figure opposing illegal wars. Ann Wright, a former U.S. Army Colonel, sent a message of support to the Peace Camp, in which she apologised for her own government’s destructive actions and illegal wars. Statement by Colonel Ann Wright.