Skip to content

RAF Lakenheath: Protesters oppose possible nuclear arms return

Jon Ironmonger/BBC Protestors at an event in Lakenheath, SuffolkJon Ironmonger/BBC
The protest was held outside RAF Lakenheath, in Suffolk, on Saturday

More than 200 people have protested against nuclear weapons potentially returning to a military base.

Campaigners believe the US is planning to bring them back to RAF Lakenheath. The Ministry of Defence, which owns the site, has declined to comment.

Nuclear arms were removed from the in Suffolk base in 2008.

Speaking at the protest, Kate Hudson, from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), said: "If they're here we're going to get rid of them."

Jon Ironmonger/BBC Kate Hudson, General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, at Lakenheath, SuffolkJon Ironmonger/BBC
Kate Hudson, from the CND, said the group wanted to raise awareness about the situation

The CND's general secretary, Ms Hudson, said: "We've heard through a report, it's going to be used once again as a nuclear weapons storage, the government can't confirm or deny.

"We don't know whether they're back or not.

"To bring them back here at a time of heightened nuclear tension seems to be extraordinarily ill-judged."

Jon Ironmonger/BBC Chris Nineham, Vice Chair of Stop the War Coalition, at Lakenheath, SuffolkJon Ironmonger/BBC
Chris Nineham has condemned the war against Ukraine

Chris Nineham, vice chairman of Stop the War Coalition, said the protest was "just the beginning".

He said if the weapons were to return, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine with Russia, "these problems have to be resolved through negotiations and diplomacy".

"It's a serious and difficult situation but we want a peaceful resolution," he added.

Jon Ironmonger/BBC Joe Weaver, Young Communist League, East of England, at Lakenheath, SuffolkJon Ironmonger/BBC
Joe Weaver does not want nuclear weapons to be stored in Suffolk

Joe Weaver, from the Young Communist League, East of England, said: "We don't want US nuclear weapons here."

He said in 2008 "over 100 nukes" were removed from the base after "relentless campaigning" from the CND and local campaign groups.

The groups had returned to campaign to stop them coming back, he added.

Jon Ironmonger/BBC Signs outside a military base in LakenheathJon Ironmonger/BBC
Signs have appeared on fencing at RAF Lakenheath opposing the war and the potential storing of nuclear weapons
presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]