The woman was detained together with a 34-year-old Iranian. The base houses Britain’s Trident nuclear missile submarines.
The 31-year-old Romanian woman was arrested and charged with a 34-year-old Iranian man after the two allegedly tried to break into the Faslane naval base in Scotland, Britain’s most important military installation, where submarines armed with Trident nuclear missiles are stationed.
What happened at Faslane
The incident happened on Thursday, March 19 at around 5pm when Police Scotland were alerted to two people trying to enter HM Naval Base Clyde, located on the shores of Gare Loch, around 40 kilometers north-west of Glasgow. The two suspects were arrested the following day and are due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday. The exact nature of the charges has not been made public and will only be disclosed at the time of the court appearance.
A Royal Navy spokesman confirmed the arrest
A Royal Navy spokesman confirmed that two people “who unsuccessfully attempted to break into HM Naval Base Clyde on Thursday 19 March” have been arrested and charged. The Navy said it would not comment further as the investigation is ongoing. Police Scotland also said inquiries were continuing.
Why Faslane is vital to British security
The Faslane base is considered, according to defense and security analyst Michael Clarke, “probably Britain’s most important military installation”. Between 6,000 and 7,000 people, both civilians and military, operate here. The base is home to all of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines, including the four Vanguard-class submarines that carry Trident nuclear missiles, the UK’s only nuclear weapon launch platform. Also stationed here are Astute-class attack submarines, nuclear-powered but conventionally armed. Nearby, at the RNAD Coulport depot on Loch Long, is Britain’s stockpile of nuclear warheads.
The arrests, amid the war with Iran
The incident takes place in an extremely tense international context. The arrests come after the United States and Israel launched large-scale attacks against Iran that killed Iran’s supreme leader on February 28. Iran responded with attacks on Israel and US allies in the Gulf. The fact that one of the suspects is an Iranian citizen raises further questions about the conflict, although authorities have not yet established any official link.
Faslane, the historic target of anti-nuclear protests
The base at Faslane has long been a focal point for pacifist movements. Right next to the entrance, there has been a permanent protest camp since 1982, a community of activists living in caravans and makeshift shelters, originally established as a form of protest against the Thatcher government’s decision to purchase the Trident nuclear missile system. After almost 40 years, the camp still operates and its residents regularly organize demonstrations and actions against nuclear weapons.
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