Seven Catholic peace activists were detained early Thursday at the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia after entering the installation to protest nuclear weapons.

The protesters were ‘‘carrying hammers and baby bottles of their own blood’’ when they entered the base, according to a statement from fellow activists.

‘‘They also brought an indictment charging the US government for crimes against peace,’’ the statement read.

A base spokesman said the seven demonstrators were detained early Thursday and turned over to local authorities. They now face charges of trespassing and defacing federal government property, the spokesman, Scott Bassett, told The Washington Post.

Bassett said the group entered without authorization and smeared red paint on buildings and signs around the base.

‘‘At no time was anybody threatened,’’ he said, adding that there were no reported injuries and that no military personnel were in danger.

The base, in southeastern Georgia, is known as ‘‘the east coast home to the Ohio-class submarines,’’ which, the Navy says, are ‘‘ballistic missile submarines, often referred to as ‘boomers,’ [that] serve as an undetectable launch platform for intercontinental missiles. They are designed specifically for stealth and the precise delivery of nuclear warheads.’’

The demonstrators who entered the base on Wednesday night called themselves the ‘‘Kings Bay Plowshares.’’

WASHINGTON POST