Yahoo News Protestors hurl bricks onto Shenstone factory roof during third protest this week
Protestors hurled bricks onto a factory roof during the third protest at a drone engine factory this week. Activists from Palestine Action scaled a building in Lynn Lane, Shenstone, earlier this morning (November 28) as they targeted the Israeli-owned drone engine factory UAV Engines Ltd.
Two activists filmed themselves saying they were on the roof of a neighbouring property while in a second video, one activist was heard on camera saying "free Palestine" before shouts of "clear" and then two objects, which appeared to be bricks, were seen being thrown onto a corrugated roof. Staffordshire Police was called to the scene at 4.30am today, the force said.
A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "We are currently at the scene of a spontaneous protest at a business premises in Shenstone this morning. At 4.30am, officers were deployed after reports of two men went onto the roof of a building in Lynn Lane. We are working to ensure the safety of employees, members of the community and protesters at the site as we look to resolve the incident safely."
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It was the third protest carried out this week by Palestine Action, following protests on Monday (November 25) in which two women were arrested after allegedly locking themselves to a vehicle outside the entrance, and another protest on Wednesday (November 27).
A spokesperson for Palestine Action said two activists "scaled the high roof the building next door" to UAV Engines at around 4.45am. The spokesperson said: "The activists managed to throw bricks to break through the roof of UAV Engines, spray red paint inside the building and damage contents" within the factory.
Palestine Action has carried out protests at the factory, which is owned by Elbit Systems Ltd, for a number of years as it claims the company makes 'parts used in Israeli combat drones'. UAV Engines Limited categorically denies it.
The spokesperson said on Monday: "While the company denies it exports to Israel, export license data for military end-use by the State of Israel proves their denials false."
A UAV Engines Ltd spokesperson previously said in June: "The accusation that UAV Engines Limited are exporting engines to Israel for use by the Israeli military is categorically false. This is misinformation propagated by a group attempting to illegally prevent a lawful UK business from operating.
"UAV Engines Limited proudly offers engineering excellence, with locally designed and produced engines built by experienced and long-serving staff delivered to the UK armed forces and to customers around the world."
