AN Edinburgh arms conference found itself picketed by anti-genocide protesters today in the first of four days of action.

Activists picketed the entrance to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), asking delegates to turn their back on the arms jamboree organised by Leonardo UK.

The company has been a target of protests in recent months, as one of its customers is the Israeli government, which is perpetrating a bloody attack on Gaza, killing more than 40,000 people.

Speaking at the protest, an activist with the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee, John Hilley, told the Star: “This building is owned indirectly by Edinburgh City Council and this is a conference which is being facilitated and hosted by Leonardo, an arms company.

“The International Court of Justice has laid down a ruling that there was a plausible genocide in Gaza and that every state and every organisation must do everything it can not to enable a genocide.

“So any organisation that partakes in that is complicit in it.

“We are here to call out the delegates that are here participating and we’ve called out Edinburgh Council here today for in effect allowing this anonymous fair in the middle of a genocide.”

Mr Hilley urged all who can to join the picket outside the conference every morning until it ends on Thursday.

He said: “Let’s send the message to them that we’re still on the street, we can see what they’re doing, that they can't hide behind their lanyards.

“Come down, support us, and more importantly, support the people of Gaza.”

Edinburgh City Council and Leonardo UK were contacted for comment.