Police called to ‘locking on’ protest at RAF Lakenheath

A total of 13 people were arrested after the protests

Protests at an RAF base near Cambridgeshire saw 13 people arrested. A protest took place outside RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk on Tuesday (April 7).

Suffolk Police were called to the protest at around 6am on Tuesday with reports of protestors “locking on”, meaning they attached themselves to people or objects. Officers arrested 13 people for locking on, as well as attempted locking on, obstruction, causing a public nuisance, and one possession of a class B drug.

Seven people have since been charged, with five granted police bail and one released under investigation. The following people have been charged:

• Virginia Herbert, 78, of Cholsey, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, charged with attempted locking on;
• Marie Walsh, 69, of Warner Crescent, Didcot, Oxfordshire, charged with locking on;
• Eris H’Aitch, 51, of Shipden Avenue, Cromer, Norfolk, charged with locking on;
• Mohammed Patel, 76, of Linnyshaw Close, Bolton, Greater Manchester, charged with locking on;
• Rajal Naidu, 75, of Gosford Street, Birmingham, charged with obstructing entrance to the base;
• David Thorpe, 60, of Barnbrook Road, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, charged with locking on;
• Ammaarah Sidat, 24, of Alexandra Close, Clayton le Moors, Accrington, Lancashire, charged with locking on.

All seven people facing charges will appear at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on June 12.

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