The second convoy (since this phase of the war against Iraq started) from Welford Munitions Dump to Fairford was halted on the A419 on it’s way to Fairford, yesterday (Mon 25th March) at about 9.50am. Given the number of routes that the convoy could have taken, we were all surprised to be able to get to the convoy. The blockade consisted of one car which was driven from a cross roads into the middle of the very slowly driven convoy, by our heroic driver Ambuka. Unfortunately, because of where we intercepted the convoy (on a crossroads) the bomb-laden trucks were, after 3 or 4 minutes, able to go round the blockage. Meanwhile, the Police wrestled four of the protesters, including myself to the ground. At the moment that the convoy stopped, three other activists miraculously appeared at the rear of the convoy and lay in the road, joined together with arm tubes.

The police identified a car as belonging to the protesters at the rear of the convoy, when this was denied the rear window was smashed – um…this was their car, so if you live on A419, near Fairford and had your car window smashed, the perpetrator were officers from the Thames Valley Police.

Believe it or not, the police didn’t detain us. Our car was searched under the Terrorism Act (2000) and the driver was given a producer. That was it, apart from the police stealing our car key and snapping the SIM card in our mobile. Apparently, the incident was not even reported by the Thames Valley Police. The reason for this is obvious; moving munitions by public routes is the weak spot in the war machine. Our group numbered no more than ten, but we nearly outwitted a convoy with Seven Police Vans and several motorcycle outriders. No wonder the Government doesn’t want it publicized. The fact that we were able to walk down a Gloucestershire country lane, on a sunny afternoon after stopping a bomb convoy is surely an incitement for much more of the same. RESISTANCE MUST CONTINUE. If you’re running out of motivation read Jo Wilding’s Iraq Diaries.