Two women arrested at RAF Lakenheath, protesting the return of U.S. nuclear weapons to the U.K.

Angie Zelter and Ginnie Herbert were arrested at a protest at a U.S. air force base in Suffolk, England on July 20, and were held for nearly 24 hours before being released from custody.

The arrests came on the sixth day of a peace camp established outside RAF Lakenheath to protest the return of U.S. nuclear weapons to the U.K. Around 60 people attended a rally which took place on a grass verge outside the base, and listened to speakers including CND general secretary Kate Hudson. Several women donned T-shirts spelling out “NO NATO” and briefly formed a line across the main entrance.

Five women then walked through the main gate of the base, intending to deliver a letter to the base commanders, asking them to stop U.S. nuclear weapons returning to Lakenheath. Suffolk police officers intercepted the women, informed them that the base commanders would not be coming to meet them, and asked them to leave or be arrested under the Serious Organized Crime Prevention Act. Three of the woman left, while Zelter and Herbert sat down and said they would stay until a base commander was available to meet them. Both were arrested and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Station, where they were questioned and released on bail, with formal charges to be given at a later date. 

One of the five women, Sue Wright, a retired primary headteacher and Chair of Norwich & District CND, said: “In March this year, together with other members of Lakenheath Alliance for Peace (LAP), I walked through the main gate to deliver a letter to the base commanders. We insisted on delivering the letter in person, and after waiting a couple of hours, RAF Base Commander Stewart Geary met briefly with us, received our letter and promised to make sure the U.S. commanders received it, and that we would receive a reply. Four months later we have heard nothing, despite reminding the commanders on several occasions. So we’ve returned today to ask again.”

Angie Zelter, 73, said: “Our original letter put a number of questions to the commanders, including these:

* Are you aware that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is against international law?

* Are you aware that the use of nuclear weapons threatens humanity and all life on our planet?

* Are you aware of the dangers to our community of having these weapons stored on your site, and that there has been no discussion in Parliament or in local councils about their arrival?

* Are you aware that the weapons designed to be carried by the F-35As could only be used as first-strike weapons?

These are crucial questions – and we still await a reply.”

After her release, Ginnie Herbert said, “We wanted to make sure that our letter to the base commanders requesting that nuclear weapons were not returned to Lakenheath was received. I crossed the white line as I felt strongly that our requests should be heard, and so stayed put and was arrested. I was pleased to be making this stand.”

Jo Blackman, an adult education tutor from Shrewsbury, said: “We are concerned that the USAF is subjecting us, and especially local people, to a major existential calamity by preparing to receive US nuclear missiles. Just one warhead could kill hundreds of thousands of people outright and devastate our environment. This is a major breach of international humanitarian and war laws as well as the UN Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. It will also make East Anglia a primary nuclear target.”

More than 30 organisations have united to form Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, including trades councils, faith groups and peace groups. For more information, visit https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/.