RAF Lakenheath has been closed in an act of peaceful protest against war. Six peace activists from Cambridge blockaded the back entrance to the base; they have all been arrested and are being taken to Mildenhall police station. The six succeeded in severely restricting access to the base for almost an hour. Earlier this morning, protesters arrived to discover that the mere threat of a blockade of the main gate had convinced the Ministry of Defence Police to close the front gate, effectively shutting down the base from this morning onwards.

At the same time, 6 'weapons inspectors' have entered the base, and are currently searching for American-controlled weapons of mass destruction. They are expected to submit a report later today, detailing the findings of their search - although we expect that the American authorities will not allow the results to be published even within the UN Security Council. This continues the recent series of Citizens' Inspections, which have taken place across the UK and much of Europe. Meanwhile, the protests at the front gate are continuing.

On hearing of these actions, CamSAW supporter Josh Robinson said 'Actions like these are so important for the anti-war movement. The government must be beginning to realise that as long as they continue to threaten to bomb the innocent, the civil disobedience will continue. We are expecting over a million people on the national demonstration on February 15th - we are building a mass movement, all the time making it clear that this war is Not in Our Names.'

For up-to-date information and interviews from the base, phone Peter McMillan on 07734322188 or Naomi Hawkins on 07736284196.

Notes for journalists:

1. RAF Lakenheath is the largest US Air Force-operated base in England, and the most important tactical nuclear bombing base in Europe. The 48th Fighter Wing at Lakenheath is the US Air Force in Europe's only F-15 Fighter Wing. It has a long history of use in the Gulf, being the first F-111 fighter unit to deploy in the First Gulf War in 1991, and was involved in bombing in 1998 and since. NATO and U.S. leaders have asserted that if America is needed again in this region, the 48th Fighter Wing will be called out first (see  http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/Mission-history/index.html).

2. On December 12, CamSAW sent a delegation of weapons inspectors into RAF Lakenheath, to draw attention to the lethal weapons that are housed there. 24 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion supporting the this inspection. The text and signatories can be seen at  http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=435 .

3. The most authoritative source currently available for United Nations assessments of the possible humanitarian consequences of a war on Iraq predicts a humanitarian disaster. The confidential UN document, obtained and released last week the Cambridge-based Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq (CASI), predicts the following consequences of military action against Iraq: - up to 500,000 direct and indirect casualties - 'disease in epidemic if not pandemic proportions' - over 3 million people (mostly children and pregnant women) suffering from severe malnutrition and requiring therapeutic feeding - 39% of the entire population would be left without access to drinkable water - the creation of over one million refugees For more information, see www.cam.ac.uk/societies/casi/info/undocs/war021210notes.htm

4. According to Save the Children Fund UK, bombing Iraq would 'lead to a humanitarian disaster for which the international community would bear a heavy responsibility...Any attacks that targeted sectors used for ration distribution (eg transport) or for public health (eg water, sanitation, electricity) would be an attack on children's ability to survive.' (March 2002)

5. Public opposition to an unjustified war has been widespread. A statement from the 44 Anglican bishops, accompanying a 3000-strong petition headed by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, condemned 'preventative war' on Iraq as being against UN ethics, Christian teaching and 'lowering the threshold of war unacceptably' (10th October 2002). Following UN Resolution 1441, Catholic bishops have strongly urged the international community to "pursue alternatives to war before it is too late" (14th November 2002). Nelson Mandela has condemned US war-mongering, saying 'one country wants to bully the world. We must not allow that' (17 September 2002)

6. There is strong legal evidence that Britain and the USA's nuclear arsenals are illegal. Britain is yet to implement its commitments under the 2000 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review and Extension when, with the four other declared Nuclear Weapons State, it gave an 'unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals', and committed to taking 13 practical steps to achieve that goal. The government has since refused to make a firm commitment that the Trident nuclear weapons system will not be replaced or refurbished, and has suggested that it would consider a nuclear first strike option against an enemy state or organisation. The USA's July 2002 Nuclear Posture Review contradicts 13 points of the NPT.

7. On 28th September 2002, an unprecedented 400,000 people took to the streets of London to show their belief that bombing Iraq would be an unjustified war of aggression, simply not justified by the scant evidence of Saddam Hussein's imminent capabilities or intentions. Many more people are expected to attend a similar march on February 15th.

8. CamSAW was founded as a response to the events of September 11 and the resulting 'war on terror' and attack on Afghanistan. With another war imminent, this coalition of students from Cambridge University, APU and local higher education and sixth form colleges will remain.