WATCH: Protesters throw flares as masked protesters infiltrate drone factory - three arrested
Palestine protest in Leicester
Three people have been arrested in Leicester after protesters breached the front gates of a drone factory which has been accused of providing weapons to Israel.
Police say they were called to the incident at around 7.50am (18th Oct) where a white van was trying break into one of the businesses in the Braunstone area of the city.
Damage was caused to a police vehicle and private property as protesters threw smoke canisters from the vehicle and sprayed red paint.
Activists from the campaign group Palestine Action have shared footage of the incident online. In one video, a masked protester wearing a red dress is seen stamping on the roof of a Police van.
Palestinian protesters target an electronics facility in Leicester
Twitter / Pal_action
Another can be heard shouting “Palestine will be free. Shut the factory down.”
The factory has been the centre of a number of demonstrations in recent years.
UAV Tactical Systems and its owners Elbit deny supplying the Israeli army with drones used for warfare.
Three people - aged 22 from Wembley, aged 27 from Manchester and aged 60 from Shropshire - all remain in custody at this time.
The arrests were made for public order offences and criminal damage.
Leicestershire Police is now investigating and asks for dashcam footage from the time of the incident.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Gamble said: “No-one was injured as a result of this action but it was irresponsible none the less. We support the right to protest peacefully but will take immediate action against those who are seeking to commit crime and damage property.
“We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed these events or from anyone who may have dashcam footage prior to the incident and may have seen the white van on its approach to Meridian Way at approximately 7.45am this morning.”
Protests have erupted across the UK in support of Palestine since Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel nearly two weeks ago. Thousands of Israeli's and Palestinians have died in the conflict since.
Additional reporting by Harvey Gough