31 July 2006: for immediate release

A peace activist at RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, reported this evening that she observed a large cargo plane with red Hebrew markings between the nose and the wing land and pull in to the ‘nuclear area’. The ‘nuclear area’ is not cordoned off from the rest of the base, but is at the far east end of the runway, hidden from perimeter fences, where the plane can pull off and park away from outside view. The area is so described by peace activists because in the past, flights from the US carrying nuclear materials have landed at RAF Brize Norton and parked in the ‘nuclear area’, where they were met by specialist nuclear weapon convoys from the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.

In light of recent military transports to Israel via Prestwick and subsequently RAF Mildenhall, serious questions have been raised about the nature of the plane’s cargo which is currently in Brize Norton’s ‘nuclear area.’ There has recently been speculation in the media about the transportation of ‘bunker buster’ bombs containing depleted uranium from the US to Israel for use against targets in Lebanon.1

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Notes to Editor:

1. One such article appeared in The Observer on Sunday 30 July 2006. The article can be viewed in full at http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1833618,00.html
2. For further information and interviews please contact Rick Wayman, CND's Press & Communications Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
3. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 32,000 members in the UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere. www.cnduk.org