ACTIVISTS in Scotland today occupied an arms factory in Edinburgh in protest at the firm’s “deep complicity” in the “brutalisation and murder of Palestinians.”

Four protesters, who are members of the direct action group Palestine Action Scotland, broke into the factory owned by Leonardo UK, a subsidiary of Italian arms giant Leonardo, in Edinburgh at 5am this morning. 

The group said that the activists managed to break in despite tough security, including a double fence, before spraying red paint on the walls and reportedly breaking windows and equipment. 

Palestine Action said that it targeted the factory because of Leonardo’s links to the Israeli military, claiming the firm supplies weapons parts and laser systems to the country.  

A heavy police presence, including a force helicopter, was present at the scene, as activists let off flares on the roof of the building. Police blocked off the road. 

Palestine Action activists targeted Thales’s factory in Glasgow in the summer of last year. 

The action marks another expansion of the firms targeted by the group, which has largely targeted sites owned by Israel arms firm Elbit Systems. 

A spokesperson from Palestine Action Scotland said: “We’ve taken on Thales, and now we’ve taken on Leonardo. 

“Any company supplying Israel should be well aware by now that Scotland is not a safe place for them to conduct their deadly trade. If you assist the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, know that we'll come and shut you down.”

The Edinburgh factory produces lasers and radar technology for combat aircraft, including the US Apache attack helicopter, and the Eurofighter Typhoon, according to the Leonardo UK website.