Press Releases & Updates 1999

Last night (Thursday 19 August) two people were arrested inside the high security area where the Trident submarines are berthed at Faslane, Scotland. This brings the total number of arrests during this Trident Ploughshares camp to 78.

Marcus Armstrong (39) from Surrey, England and Louise James (18) from Cork, Ireland, swam for 45 minutes across the ice-cold Gareloch, penetrating the heart of Britain’s first strike nuclear weapon system. They wore wet-suits and flippers and were carrying spray paint, which the two wanted to use to write the slogan: "Disarm NOW!" on the Trident submarine.

Entering the water opposite the base at 10:45pm, they crossed the Loch in darkness, avoiding the MOD patrol boats. At 11:30pm as they negotiated the floating barrier into the high security area, the intruder alarm sounded. They were arrested while swimming the final stretch of water towards the Trident submarine. They were both charged with breaching bye-laws affecting the base. They were released at 2:30am at the gates at Faslane barefoot in paper boiler suits, their wet-suits and flippers having been kept as evidence.

Marcus Armstrong said:

"We know that the Trident nuclear weapons system is illegal and immoral. The British government has reneged on all its promises to work towards nuclear disarmament. We wanted to reach the heart of the beast in order to give the clear message - "Disarm Now" and bring attention to the existence of these horrific weapons of mass destruction."

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