SEVEN ARRESTS AT NUCLEAR WEAPONS BASE

On 4th October seven peace activists were held at Coulport Naval Armaments Depot on Loch Long where the warheads for Britain's Trident nuclear missiles are stored.

Six activists, in three groups of two, cut the perimeter fence on the eastern side of the base, while the seventh cut the fence near the base's main gate. Those on the eastern side were attempting to reach the Trident High Security area but were apprehended at the perimeter.

Those arrested were: Morag Balfour (27), from Glenrothes in Scotland; Mark Akkerman (20), a student from the Netherlands; Martyn Kelly (23) a Colombian; Hisham Abdallah from Glasgow; Alex Cochrane from Glasgow; Stein Machiels and Ward Machiels, both Belgians currently living at Faslane Peace Camp. All are currently in custody within the Coulport base.This brings to 772 the number of arrests in the Trident Ploughshares campaign.

A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said: "This morning a Special Nuclear Materials convoy arrived at Coulport, bringing Tritium to re-equip Trident missiles there. This is yet another sign that Britain keeps its nuclear missile fleet in a state of constant readiness, which constitutes an illegal threat under international law. We will continue to do whatever we can to prevent this criminal activity."

Note: Starting 9th October in the High Court in Edinburgh the hearing of the Lord Advocate's Reference of the judgment of Sheriff Gimblett in Greenock Sheriff Court last October when she acquitted the Trident Three.