The group of 5 people from Belgium joined local activists to take part in a day of nonviolent direct action organised by the "Lakenheath Action Group". They have been arrested for criminal damage after entering the base, where they had intended to carry out a citizens weapons inspection. The group is opposed to the presence of nuclear weapons at the base, which have been declared illegal under international law.

Anu Korhonen, legal support for the international citizens weapons inspection team said: "We have travelled to USAF Lakenheath to search for evidence of weapons of mass destruction. We are appalled at the hypocrisy of the United States, who are willing to go to war over unconfirmed reports of WMD in Iraq, whilst they maintain their own illegal nuclear weapons at Lakenheath and threaten to use them."

The inspection team was collecting evidence of the presence of nuclear weapons at Lakenheath, believed to be US B61 nuclear weapons, of the same type that are deployed at Kleine Brogel, Limburg. They plan to send a copy of the inspection report to members of the UN security council. The group had spoken to US military personnel guarding the base who could "neither confirm nor deny" the presence of nuclear weapons on the base. Despite this official policy of silence it is clear from the nuclear safety awards that the base has received that the nuclear weapons are present.

Photographs of todays and yesterdays actions will be available later today.

Press contacts: Zina, Kathryn and David on +44 7803 161 723.

Lakenheath Action Group
 http://www.lakenheathaction.org


More pictures on:
 http://fme.sincerethought.org/gallery/album90



Coming action:

Get in SHAPE
Bomspotting action at the NATO military HQ
25th October 2003, 11am /// Mons, Belgium
 http://www.motherearth.org/bomspotting/en/home_en.php