Three women have been arrested under the Terrorism Act after a van was driven into an Edinburgh-based defence company’s fence.
Police Scotland said the three women – aged 31, 34 and 42 – were arrested after a disturbance in the Crewe Road North area of Edinburgh on Tuesday.
The force said a van was driven into an external fence of a business premises, and that its Counter Terrorism Unit was leading the investigation.
It added: “Enquiries are ongoing. We are treating this as targeted, and we do not believe there is any wider threat to the public.”
Direct action campaign group Shut Down Leonardo – which said it aims to target aerospace, defence and security company Leonardo’s headquarters in Edinburgh – posted a photo of the van.
It shows police on the roof of the vehicle, which has a Palestine flag hanging off the back.
Shut Down Leonardo claims the factory makes components for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets.
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In a separate post, the group said “we’re taking action to shut down Leonardo’s weapons factory in Edinburgh” and shared a video of an “action taker” explaining why the site has been targeted.
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A Leonardo spokesperson told the PA news agency: “Leonardo UK is subject to UK government export controls and does not supply equipment direct to Israel.
“The right to peaceful protest is an important principle in our society, however, aggressive and violent activity should have no place in protest.
“The intimidation of our people, who work hard to support the security and defence of the UK, is not acceptable.
“Our main customer is the UK Armed Forces. We are proud to manufacture technology that supports our service personnel and helps keep them safe. Their dedication underpins the freedom on which our society is based.”
Palestine Action – now proscribed as a terrorist group – had also targeted Leonardo’s Edinburgh site, cutting off the electricity supply to the factory in March.
