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Police in the UK have made multiple arrests outside an airbase used by the United States for long-range bombing runs on Iran.

Getting into it: According to UK authorities, the arrests took place during a peace encampment outside RAF Lakenheath, where activists had gathered as part of a multi-day protest. The demonstration was organized by campaigners, including the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, who were protesting the use of the base by US forces in operations linked to the conflict in Iran. Protesters argued that the UK could be implicated in international law violations if its bases were used for such missions, and some participants staged blockades and held a continuous vigil outside the main gate.

Among those present were individuals publicly voicing support for Palestine Action, a controversial activist group that is currently banned by the UK government over a series of direct-action incidents targeting defense-related sites and companies connected to military operations. Some protesters wore clothing with slogans backing the group and opposing what they described as “genocide,” which drew the attention of police monitoring the protest.

Suffolk Police said seven people (five men and two women) were arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organization, an offense under UK law. Those detained were taken to a local investigation center for questioning. In addition, two other individuals were arrested on separate occasions and charged with offenses, including willful obstruction of the highway, linked to efforts to block access to the base during the protest.

Police defended their actions, stating they have a duty to enforce the law “without fear or favor” as it currently stands. They stressed that even though the legal status of Palestine Action is under challenge, it remains a banned organization at present, and any suspected support for it could constitute a criminal offense.

As of now, there has been no direct statement reported from Palestine Action itself in relation to these arrests.