Best-selling novelist Sally Rooney has been interviewed under caution by Scotland Yard following her participation in a Palestine solidarity protest at a key Royal Air Force base, The Independent can reveal.
The acclaimed Normal People author was among a group of activists who gained access to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last month. The demonstration was organised to protest against UK arms sales to Israel and the use of British airfields in military logistics.
Metropolitan Police confirmed to The Independent that a 33-year-old woman had been interviewed under caution in connection with the incident, though no arrests have been made. The force is investigating allegations of aggravated trespass at the strategically important military installation.
Authors and Intellectuals Join Growing Movement
Rooney's involvement places her among a growing number of high-profile cultural figures speaking out on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The protest, which took place on June 10th, saw participants hang Palestinian flags and display banners reading 'Stop Arming Israel'.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the incursion at the time, stating that "protesters gained access to a nearby area but did not enter the airfield itself."> Base operations continued unaffected during the demonstration.
Free Speech Questions Raised
This development comes amid intense national debate about the limits of protest and free speech in the UK. The questioning of a prominent author by counter-terrorism commanded officers is likely to raise questions about police response to peaceful demonstration.
Scotland Yard declined to comment specifically on Rooney's case but confirmed their investigation into the Brize Norton incident remains ongoing. No charges have been filed at this time.
The situation continues to develop as authorities weigh potential actions against the protesters while free speech advocates closely monitor the case's implications for civil liberties in Britain.
