Pro-Palestine activists SMASH lorry into Leicester drone factory before protesters scale roof and set off red flares

Pro-Palestine activists SMASH lorry into Leicester drone factory before protesters scale roof and set off red flares

WATCH: Pro-Palestine protesters smash a lorry into a drone factory in Leicester

X/ Palestine Action
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 08/05/2024

- 11:31

Updated: 08/05/2024

- 13:24

Protesters drove a HGV into the factory and covered the front of the building in red paint

Palestine activists have smashed a lorry into a drone factory in Leicester and ripped apart its roof after setting off red flares.

The group claim the factory, on Meridian Way, supplies UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS) weapons to Israel.


UAV Tactical Systems is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems UK, which in turn is a subsidiary of Israel-based international defence electronics company Elbit Systems.

On Wednesday, protesters drove a HGV into the factory and covered the front of the building in red paint.

Palestine activists have smashed a lorry into a drone factory in Leicester and ripped apart its roof after setting off red flaresX/ Palestine Action

Another group of activists scaled the roof before ripping parts off and throwing materials into the factory below.

Campaigners set off red flares from the top of the building and held Palestine flags.

One sign read: "#shutelbitdown".

The factory has been a regular target for Palestine Action with protesters reportedly crashing two cars into bollards in front of the building.

Writing on social media, the group said: "Whilst one group smashed a lorry into Elbit’s Leicester drone factory, another scaled the roof of the building. Collectively, they’ve SHUT DOWN the Israeli weapons maker."

The protest has been met with anger online with some condemning the action.

Former Barrow MP, Lord Walney said: "Defence industry sites being criminally sabotaged today by the extreme Palestine Action group.

"Whatever your view on the Gaza conflict, terrorising defence workers in the UK can never be justified. These militants should not be able to cause mayhem as if they fear no consequence."

Another group of activists scaled the roof before ripping parts off and throwing materials into the factory below

X/ Palestine Action

He added: "This is criminal sabotage and frightening intimidation of workers in the UK. Palestine Action and other extreme groups are not being deterred by the law as it stands."

In November last year, the group prevented workers from accessing Elbit Systems at Meridian Business Park.

In the video, the protesters can he heard saying: "Shut Elbit Down".

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