Protesters charged over airbase blockade not local
Luke Deal/BBCA group of protesters have been charged with a range of offences after staging a demonstration against the Iran war outside a US airbase.
Suffolk Police arrested 13 people on Tuesday after they positioned themselves at the main entrance to RAF Lakenheath, in Suffolk, and two other entry points.
The six-hour blockade, which started at 06:00 BST and saw the activists lock themselves to each other and their vehicles, caused traffic disruption.
The force has confirmed that seven of the protesters – aged between 24 and 78 and from addresses outside the county - have been charged.
They were charged with either locking on, attempted locking on, or obstructing the entrance to the airbase and released on bail until 12 June.
According to the police, they are from Birmingham, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Bolton, Accrington and Southampton.
Of the other six people arrested, five were granted police bail and one was released under investigation.
Luke Deal/BBCThe protest, staged by Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, saw protesters attach themselves to a car, to a large multi-coloured peace symbol and to each other.
According to one demonstrator, the reason behind the stunt was to raise awareness of the United States and Israel's war with Iran and to call for "world peace".
It caused widespread disruption to drivers and resulted in some road closures, until police cleared one gate by 10:00 and the others by the early afternoon.
Vikki Irwin/BBCGerald Kelly, vice chairman of Lakenheath Parish Council and also a district councillor at West Suffolk, said traffic between Eriswell and Lakenheath had been particularly "fraught" since the conflict began.
"Last week we had the A10 aircraft in, and that brought in huge numbers of people just to see the aircraft," he added.
"So, traffic and parking was suddenly a big issue, but fortunately they left on Friday. All we have now is the protestors."
'Peaceful and lawful'
The Ministry of Defence said the US had been authorised to use British military bases for specific defensive missions to destroy Iran's missile capabilities.
A spokesperson added that Iran was "threatening British people, bases, and our partners in the region".
The USAF at Lakenheath said it respected people's right to "engage in peaceful and lawful freedom of speech and expression" but security was its "top priority".
"We co-ordinate closely with our UK policing partners to monitor demonstrations taking place outside of RAF Lakenheath," a spokesperson said.
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