At least 500 international activists were arrested on 16 April after a thousand gathered in Belgium to carry out a “citizens' nuclear weapons inspection”.
A massive police presence greeted the simultaneous actions at NATO HQ in Brussels, SHAPE NATO military HQ) in Mons, and Kleine Brogel airbase where 20 US nuclear weapons are stored. There was also an unannounced inspection of a NATO satellite base in Gooik, which is involved in communication between these bases.
Activists were present from the six NATO countries currently hosting the 480 US nuclear weapons based in Europe: Italy, Germany, Belgium, UK, Turkey and the Netherlands. They were joined by activists from Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Spain, Portugal, Nigeria and France.
The inspection was designed o prevent the functioning of the NATO nuclear weapons, by targeting the bases in Belgium involved in the deployment, command, control and communication of the weapons.
There were around 500 arrests in total (200 at Kleine Brogel, 120 at NATO, 130 at SHAPE and 20 at Gooik). Many of the inspectors were arrested while trespassing on the bases, and others were arrested on their way to enter the base. All inspectors were released after a few hours.
A clear choice
The Bombspotting campaign is demanding the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe, and an end to NATO's nuclear strategy. In May the 184 member countries of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will meet. “They have a clear choice. Either disarmament or a new arms race”, said Hans Lammerant, from the campaign.
”At a time when key NATO countries are doing so much to encourage Iran to give up its nuclear aspirations, it would be hypocritical for NATO not to do the same”, said Nicky Davies, from Greenpeace International, who supported the action.
”We are part of a growing movement of people who will continue to conduct these inspections of nuclear sites, to bear witness and draw attention to these crimes, until the world is free of nuclear weapons.”