Five pro-Palestine activists have been arrested after they shut down an Israeli arms factory in Staffordshire for three days.
Activists from Palestine Action occupied the roof of Elbit Systems’ UAV Engines factory at Shenstone on Monday.
Elbit makes parts for military drones which campaigners say have been used to attack Gaza.
Palestine Action said at 2am all five activists were arrested on the roof and taken in police vans to two police stations. It is not clear when they will be released.
Palestine Action is calling for the closure of all Elbit Systems’ UK sites, and an end to “Britain’s complicity with Israeli Apartheid.”
The group said in a statement: “The UK government has been complicit in the colonisation of Palestine for over 100 years. Now they continue to profit from, sustain and facilitate Israel’s apartheid regime.
“While our government continues to turn a blind eye to Elbit Systems continuing to arm Israel’s war crimes against the Palestinian people, we too will continue to disrupt and take direct action for the sake of human rights, justice and freedom.
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“We call on all those who stand against racism and for humanity to take action, join us and shut Elbit down for good.”
Palestine Action says it is a grassroots network of activists dedicated to ending Israeli Apartheid, occupation and colonisation, and has been active for just over a month.
Elbit Systems has yet to comment on the factory closure.
