September 30, 2015 4.52 pm This story is over 102 months old

Over 100 drones protesters heading to RAF Waddington this weekend

Drones protest: A group of around 100 people are expected to stage a protest against the use of drones at RAF Waddington this weekend.

Around 100 supporters of a campaign against the use of military drones will hold a protest outside RAF Waddington this weekend.

The event, which sparks the start of Drones Week of Action, will kick off at 12 noon on Saturday, October 3.

It will see people from all over Britain demonstrating against the base’s unmanned drones operations, organisers say.

Penny Walker, from Leicester, who has campaigned in the area before with the End Drone Wars action group, said: “I am dismayed at the state of perpetual war and am alarmed at recent target killing of British citizens in Syria.

“I was horrified when I heard Waddington drones were used for the recent target killing. Britain doesn’t do that, it’s a slippery slope.

“The UK has previously distanced itself from the US and Israeli use of drones to assassinate without trial those it regards as enemies.

“However once drones are in the armoury, it seems the temptation to use these systems even beyond international law is too great.

“Our main message on Saturday is ‘stop using drones’. The government needs to look at the impact of their use and be more accountable. There is no transparency on the subject.

“Many young people will be at the demonstration in solidarity with the children who live in fear of drone attacks. There will be kite flying, poetry, a shared picnic and other activities.”

RAF Waddington acts as Britain’s ‘drone headquarters’, with crews remotely piloting unmanned aircraft on combat missions from the base.

There have been a number of protests outside the base in the past with some End Drone Wars activists still awaiting trail after breaking through the site fence with wire cutters.

RAF Waddington has so far not responded to the announcement.