Who are the Brize Norton 6?
Six people are charged over the 20 June 2025 protest at RAF Brize Norton. They are aged 22 to 44, and all six are held on pre-trial remand.
Key points
- Six people are accused of the same two conspiracy charges over the protest at RAF Brize Norton on 20 June 2025.
- The case was called the Brize Norton 5 until Lara Downes was charged in 2026 as the sixth accused.
- The first five pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey in January 2026. Lara Downes denies the charges against her.
- All six are held on pre-trial remand. None has been convicted, and the trial is due to start on 25 January 2027.
The first four accused were charged and remanded in early July 2025, and a trial date of January 2027 was set on 18 July 2025.
#Who are the six accused?
Ages and prisons are as reported. The reporting does not state the prison for every accused person.
| Name | Age | Prison | Plea or position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amu Gib (formerly Amy Gardiner-Gibson; they/them) | 30 | HMP Bronzefield | Not guilty | On remand |
| Jon Cink (formerly Jony Cink; Czech citizen) | 25 | HMP Bronzefield, as reported | Not guilty | On remand |
| Lewie Chiaramello (reported in the press as Lewis) | 23 | HMP Bristol | Not guilty | On remand |
| Muhammad Umer Khalid | 22 | HMP Wormwood Scrubs | Not guilty | On remand |
| Daniel Jeronymides-Norie | 36 | Not stated | Not guilty | On remand |
| Lara Downes | 44 | Not stated | Denies the charges | On remand |
Lara Downes was charged after the first five. Her position was reported in October 2026.
#What are the six charged with?
All six face the same two charges:
- Conspiracy to commit criminal damage, under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. A conspiracy charge means the prosecution must show an agreement with others to commit the offence, not that each person personally caused the damage.
- Conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK. A prohibited place is a protected site, such as a military base. The wording matches section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 (NSA), which is explained in the section 4 explainer.
The charges are described from press reports of court hearings. None of the accused has been convicted of either charge.
Proceedings under the National Security Act need the Attorney General's personal consent. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) makes the charging decision under its Full Code Test, and the Attorney General's consent is a separate public-interest safeguard.
#How did the case grow from five to six?
Muhammad Umer Khalid was arrested on 1 August 2025 and appeared at the Old Bailey on 22 August 2025 as the fifth accused. The first five pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey on 16 January 2026. Lara Downes was charged as the sixth accused in mid-2026. The full sequence is in the case timeline.
#Where are the six being held?
All six are held on pre-trial remand. The first five will have spent about 18 months in prison by the time the trial is due to start on 25 January 2027. Four of the accused joined a hunger strike from November 2025, and the prisoners article covers their conditions and the care allegations.
#What is the dispute over the section 4 charge?
The case is the first use of the National Security Act 2023 against a domestic protest group. The defence argues that protest aimed at UK foreign policy was never meant to fall within the Act. The Crown's position is that the words mean what they say.
Questions and answers
Who are the Brize Norton 6?
The six people charged with two conspiracy offences over the protest on 20 June 2025 are Amu Gib, Jon Cink, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, Lewie Chiaramello, Muhammad Umer Khalid and Lara Downes.
Why is it called the Brize Norton 6 and not the Brize Norton 5?
The case was known as the Brize Norton 5 after the first five people were charged. A sixth person, Lara Downes, was arrested and charged in 2026, and the case is now described as the Brize Norton 6.
Have any of the Brize Norton accused been convicted?
No. None has been convicted of either charge. The trial is due to start on 25 January 2027 at Woolwich Crown Court.
Sources
- Five pro-Palestinian activists plead not guilty over UK air base break-in
- Four face 2027 trial over alleged Palestine Action aircraft damage
- Sixth person charged over RAF base break-in
