Press Releases & Updates 2006

Background.

Trident Ploughshares had been alerted to the possibility that Prestwick civilian airport is still being used by the US military to supply Israel with munitions that would be used in their military bombardment of civilian areas of Lebanon. There were credible reports that these munitions had included large "bunker busting" bombs, cluster bombs and depleted uranium. Trident Ploughshares, an organisation dedicated to nonviolent and accountable disarmament of the UK’s illegal weapons of mass destruction (the Trident nuclear weapons system) is very concerned about ongoing UK breaches of international humanitarian law and the use of Prestwick Airport by the US seemed to be yet another example of a flagrant breach of international law - the aiding and abetting of war crimes. The fact that Israel also has illegal weapons of mass destruction and is illegally occupying the West Bank (Palestine) and is in grave breach of the Geneva Conventions were other reasons for concern. Official denials that Prestwick is not being used by the US military could not be trusted - officials have lied before. Therefore, Trident Ploughshares decided to act in the public interest and send in citizen inspectors to find out the truth of the matter.

Inspections.

5th/6th August 2006 - 4 War Crime Inspectors [1] were inside Prestwick Airport for over 2 hours. They found the military area and monitored the flights. They noted 3 Atlas Aircraft alongside 1 USAF plane. Then they witnessed the arrival of another Atlas plane that was escorted by fire engines, which suggests there was a hazardous load aboard. They approached this last plane to inspect it and were arrested before they could confirm the load.

6th/7th August 2006 - 2 Teams of War Crime Inspectors entered Prestwick from 2 separate locations. The first team of 4 inspectors [2] was apprehended by airport security within 5 minutes of entering the airport and within 100 yards of the security fence.

The second team of 3 inspectors [3] entered the airport, spending over 2 hours collecting evidence. They noted a Polar Air Cargo (N920FT) next to a USAF (40208) plane alongside another USAF (N123AQ) plane. There were more planes in a well-lit hangar where repairs were being carried out. They then spotted an engineer (who later stated he was repairing the radar equipment) in front of an open USAF military aircraft numbered C130. The team entered the plane behind the back of this engineer (only 10 yards away). Marcus was sitting in the cockpit reading a manual when he was apprehended by a US serviceman. Angie and Chris were apprehended while searching the body of the plane which contained the personal possessions of servicemen (confirmed by one of the US servicemen) and the empty seats awaiting the servicemen.

7th/8th August 2006 - A further Team of 5 War Crime Inspectors [4] were in the airport grounds for around 40 minutes before being apprehended. They saw 2 USAF C130 Hercules aircraft. They opened the door of one which they found was unlocked and entered. It was labelled Air National Guard, the 1st State (which is Delaware) and was numbered 40208. (This was the same aircraft that had been seen by the previous Team the night before). 2 airport ground-workers saw the entry and tried to stop the inspection from proceeding. The Team examined the cargo area and found supplies but no ordinance. Anna-Linnea went to the cockpit and examined documentation and manuals and took photos. The Team, accompanied by the 2 ground-workers, then proceeded to examine a Polar Air aircraft that was also present in the area. One of the engines was wrapped in white sheets and one of the ground workers said it was scrapped. Proceeding to the other USAF plane, Ludd was thrown to the ground by one of the ground-workers, and the door was then blocked by the ground staff. The Team were then arrested.

Conclusions.

1. A busy civilian airport is being subjected to unnecessary and dangerous risks by the close proximity of military planes that may contain explosives and munitions that are being transported through Prestwick. Landing and taking-off are the most dangerous times for any aircraft and the scene of most air accidents. It is inappropriate that military aircraft are using Prestwick.
2. It is widely known and accepted that the US military aircraft are engaged in supplying weaponry to Israel. Israel is known to be engaged in war crimes in that it has targeted civilian areas all over Lebanon, in a disproportionate and indiscriminate manner.
3. Airport and Government sources cannot be trusted to tell the truth. In these circumstances it is imperative that citizen groups check out all information and put it into the public domain.
4. Citizen groups should not have to do the work of a police force. It is time now for an independent and serious enquiry into the use of the civilian and military airports by the USA in the light of international humanitarian law.

More information available from 0845 45 88 361

Photos of the inspection teams before and during their inspections, including photos of inside the planes are available from here

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