A group of pro-Palestinian activists used a commercial vehicle to ram through the fence and break into Shannon Airport in western Ireland, a facility also used by the US Air Force.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
Shannon Airport temporarily suspended operations this evening following a Major Airside breach by Palestine activist group "Palestine Action Éire"
The group used a van to ram a boundary gate before climbing on top and running onto the Active Airfield and towards… pic.twitter.com/drD2jgi1Ni
— Shauns_Aviation🇮🇪✈️ (@Shauns_Aviation) May 1, 2025
According to reports in local media, the activists attempted to reach a US Air Force aircraft that had stopped at the location for refueling but were caught by the airport's security unit and removed from the site. Media reports suggested the protesters may have attempted to disrupt the control tower frequencies. Flights at the airport, the fifth largest on the island, were suspended for approximately two hours.
Three people arrested after protest group crashes van through perimeter fence of Shannon Airporthttps://t.co/rIvlyfwzuM | @thepmanofficial pic.twitter.com/sR7CW5tPlX
— The Clare Echo (@ClareEcho) May 1, 2025
Members of the "Palestinian Action Ireland" organization documented themselves during the break-in while cutting the airport's fences. The footage shows at least one activist, dressed in a red outfit and wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, running toward an aircraft on the runway.
The incident received minimal coverage in Ireland's mainstream media, despite the disruption caused to passengers and the potential damage to already strained relations with the Americans. The incoming Irish ambassador to the United States was summoned for a meeting Friday, unrelated to the incident, during which it was made clear to him that his country "is not in the same place" as the United States regarding its view on Israel.
In February, pro-Palestinian organizations demonstrated against the American military presence at Shannon Airport due to the support Washington provides to Israel in its war in Gaza.
