Pro-Palestinian protesters have scaled the roof of an Israel-owned drone factory armed with electric saws to break into the building, as police confirmed they had made two arrests.
Members of a group known as People Against Genocide filmed themselves scaling the premises of UAV Tactical Systems in Braunstone, Leicester, in the early hours of Friday morning.
The business is a subsidiary of Israeli-owned weapons firm Elbit Systems and primarily produces military-grade drones for the British Army, as well as international clients.
On its social media, People Against Genocide describes itself as ‘a group taking direct action to stop the UK-Israel weapons trade’, with Elbit Systems named as one of its key targets.
Videos posted by the group show a group of protesters clad in yellow jump suits, gloves and hard hats cutting into large sections of the metal sheeting on the roof with electric saws, as sparks fly around them.
They are then seen pulling the sheets back, exposing the building.
On one section of the roof the activists have spray-painted the words ‘Intifada Revolution’ and stuck down a poster stating ‘Free Palestine’, alongside a Palestinian flag.
Another image shows the words ‘Shut Elbit down’, alongside a red upside triangle – a symbol widely used in Hamas propaganda videos to denote Israeli military targets.
Members of People Against Genocide were filmed cutting into large sections of the metal sheeting on the roof with electric saws at UAV Tactical Systems in Leicester
On its social media, People Against Genocide describes itself as ‘a group taking direct action to stop the UK-Israel weapons trade’
A member of the group, referring to today being the 110th anniversary of the Easter Rising – and said ‘we are here, today, to shut Elbit down’
In a second video, a female activist said today’s action coincided with the 110th anniversary of the Easter Rising when Irish nationalists launched an armed revolt against British rule in Ireland.
She then said: ‘We are f****** sick and tired of our government’s collaboration in this genocide that Israel is committing against the Palestinian people. We are tired of them waiting to uphold international law.’
A video posted later by the group, shows some of the activists audaciously abseiling into the building and smashing equipment within the factory while hanging from the ropes. The internal pipework and equipment had also been widely sprayed with red paint.
Leicestershire Police said officers were called at 3.10am this morning following reports of a van having driven through a gate at the premises and activists causing damage to the building.
Two men have been arrested, one of suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage, and the second on suspicion of causing criminal damage and assaulting an emergency worker. They both remain in police custody.
Officers remain at the scene, with negotiations ongoing with four people who still remain on the roof of the building.
In a statement, Leicestershire Police said: ‘A proactive policing response is in place and officers remain at the scene. We also continue to engage with those directly impacted by this report.
‘Police continue to support the right to peacefully protest but we will also continue to take immediate action where reports of anyone seeking to commit crime or damage to property are made.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 65 of 24 April.
Activists have spray-painted the words ‘Shut Elbit down’, alongside a red upside triangle – a symbol widely used in Hamas propaganda videos to denote Israeli military targets
The group have also daubed the words ‘Intifada Revolution’ onto the roof and a poster stating ‘Free Palestine’, alongside a Palestinian flag
Some of the activists audaciously abseiled into the building and smashed equipment within the factory while hanging from the ropes
On Wednesday, People Against Genocide were filmed vandalising the offices of logistics company DSV in Birmingham. The group claims it transports weapons for Elbit
The action is the second carried out by the group in only two days, after protesters were filmed vandalising the Birmingham offices of logistics company DSV, located close to Birmingham Airport. The group claimed the business is used to transport weapons for Elbit.
Footage from the first incident on Wednesday shows a protester smashing a window with an axe, while a second activist attacks metal shutters with a saw.
They are then seen spraying the window with red paint using what appears to be an adapted fire extinguisher.
People Against Genocide have previously targeted Elbit Systems. In February activists blocked the entrance of the site in Filton, Bristol, with modified Transit vans.
The same factory was the scene of a high-profile break-in carried out in August 2024 by members of Palestine Action – before the group was proscribed – that led to the arrest of 24 people. A trial is currently in process in relation to the incident.
UAV Tactical Systems has also been targeted previously.
Last May, more than 50 members of the Leicester Palestine Solidarity Campaign participated in a ‘funeral-style procession’ outside the factory.
Drumming, chanting and waving Palestinian flags, they shouted ‘murderers’ at workers as they left the factory for the day.
A month previously, Palestine Action dumped manure at the factory’s gates, while the group had also carried out other actions including members climbing the roof, chaining the gates shut and spraying the walls with red paint.
The Government is currently appealing a High Court judgment earlier this year that ruled the proscription of Palestine Actions had been unlawful.
Daily Mail has contacted UAV Tactical Systems and West Midlands Police for comment.
