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RAF Waddington drones protesters face trial | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Six activists, including two priests, are to stand trial for damaging a fence during a protest at an RAF base used to operate unmanned drone aircraft. | Six activists, including two priests, are to stand trial for damaging a fence during a protest at an RAF base used to operate unmanned drone aircraft. |
The group, aged from 37 to 66, are charged with criminal damage of the fence at RAF Waddington on 3 June. | The group, aged from 37 to 66, are charged with criminal damage of the fence at RAF Waddington on 3 June. |
Additional charges of conspiring to commit criminal damage and obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in lawful activity have been withdrawn. | Additional charges of conspiring to commit criminal damage and obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in lawful activity have been withdrawn. |
The trial will be at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on 7 October. | The trial will be at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on 7 October. |
The date was set during a court hearing earlier, during which the activists were granted bail on the condition they do not go within 100 metres of any RAF base in Lincolnshire. | The date was set during a court hearing earlier, during which the activists were granted bail on the condition they do not go within 100 metres of any RAF base in Lincolnshire. |
The defendants are: | The defendants are: |
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Reaper aircraft began to be operated from control stations at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, earlier this year. | Reaper aircraft began to be operated from control stations at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, earlier this year. |
While the pilots are based in Lincolnshire the aircraft are based at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan. | While the pilots are based in Lincolnshire the aircraft are based at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan. |
UK Reaper aircraft carry laser-guided Hellfire missiles and laser-guided GBU-12 bombs. | UK Reaper aircraft carry laser-guided Hellfire missiles and laser-guided GBU-12 bombs. |
But the Military of Defence says the aircraft are mainly used for surveillance. | But the Military of Defence says the aircraft are mainly used for surveillance. |
An MoD spokesperson said: "We can confirm that thousands of hours of surveillance have been flown and a number of precision weapons deployed. | An MoD spokesperson said: "We can confirm that thousands of hours of surveillance have been flown and a number of precision weapons deployed. |
"However, we do not give a running commentary on operations from any of our ground or air armed platforms." | "However, we do not give a running commentary on operations from any of our ground or air armed platforms." |
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