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Ulla Roder Confirms Leuchars Tornado "Out of Action"

TRIDENT PLOUGHSHARES | 12.03.2003 22:09 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Scotland

Today Trident Ploughshares activist Ulla Roder confirmed that the Tornado jet which she damaged yesterday at Leuchars airbase is unlikely to fly again.

Ulla (48), from Odense in Denmark, but currently living in Scotland, described how she went into a hangar at the Fife airbase and discovered the plane completely unguarded. She said: "I took my hammer to the nose-cone, the cockpit, the fuselage, the wings, the tailplane and other parts of the plane which it was safe to damage. I don't see it flying again. I then sat down and waited for the security people to arrive. When the police came everything was calm and relaxed." She is in good spirits and pleased that this particular aircraft will not be dropping bombs on innocent people in Iraq.

This morning Ulla appeared at private hearing at Cupar Sheriff Court and was remanded to Cornton Vale Prison in Stirling on petition until another hearing takes place next Thursday. Currently the charge against her is one of criminal damage. Until investigations are complete the cost of the damage will not be known but may run to over £1 million.

A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said: "Ulla's action gives a huge lift to the anti-war movement and will inspire other peaceful and nonviolent acts to put a spoke in the wheel of the Blair war machine."

Ulla is well known as one of the Trident Three who were acquitted by a Scottish court after damaging the Trident research barge Maytime in 1999. She has served several prison terms for anti-Trident actions.

Contacts: David Mackenzie 0870 458 3117 (07876593016)

Jane Tallents 08454588367