Charges of “conspiracy” have been brought against four Palestinian “activists” who two weeks ago stormed a Royal Air Force base and spray-painted two aircraft to protest London’s support for Israel, the police counter-terrorism department announced last Wednesday night.

Earlier yesterday, British MPs voted by a large majority to outlaw and declare as terrorist the Palestine Action organization, whose members are responsible for this vandalism. The House of Lords is also due to vote on the issue today.

Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Johnny King, 24, Daniel Geronimides-Nori, 35, and Lewy Ciaramello, 22, have been remanded in custody and are expected to appear before a court in London today.

They were charged with “conspiracy” to enter a restricted area in order to harm the security and interests of Britain and to commit damage, the counter-terrorism agency said in a statement.

They were initially suspected of “committing, preparing or inciting the commission of terrorist acts”, but the prosecution eventually assessed that “these offences were not terrorism-related”.

A 41-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of “offering assistance” to the activists, but she was released on parole until September 19. Another 23-year-old man was released without charge.

Several Palestine Action members stormed the Brize Norton base, the largest Royal Air Force base located in central England, on 20 June and painted two warplanes with red paint.

Police said the damage was estimated at 7 million pounds (8.10 million euros).

The group has indicated that it will appeal to the courts against its ban and inclusion on the list of terrorist organisations.

A London court will begin hearing the matter as early as Friday, with Palestine Action having the support of humanitarian non-governmental organizations, including Amnesty International.

If the ban on the organisation remains in place, anyone who belongs to or supports it would risk criminal charges and a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.