Over 2000 activists took part in the "Bomspotting" nonviolent direct action at the Belgian Airforce Base of Kleine Brogel yesterday. Despite a heavy police and military presence, and a prohibition on gathering in groups of more than four people, several hundred people managed enter the base. Once inside the base, the activists sat down and began to picnic.
This action of civil disobedience is necessary because NATO and the Belgian government continue to store illegal nuclear weapons at the base. The preparation and training for the use of these nuclear weapons cannot continue when there are uninvited people in the base.
In total 1117 people were arrested inside the base, and in the surrounding area. Many hundreds more joined a support demonstration in the nearby village.
Amongst those arrested were anti-nuclear activists from the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Britain and France. They were joined by several members of the Belgian and Dutch parliaments, including members of three of the parties which make up Belgium's coalition government.
The action remained entirely nonviolent throughout, and everyone was released by 10pm.

The Bomspotting action is one of several actions taking place around the world, as part of the "Keep Space for Peace" week of actions against the militarisation of space, and the "Nuclear Weapons Abolition Days" actions against nuclear weapons in Europe.

For more information on the action, and the "From Bomspotting to Bomstopping" campaign, visit  http://www.bomspotting.be