Direct Action Against Edinburgh’s Leonardo Factory
As the intensity of the attacks on civilians, women and children fleeing to supposedly ‘safe’ territory increases in Rafah, so too does the nature of the protests here. Despite ongoing British intransigence and complicity with the depravity of the Israeli Defence Force, people are standing up and taking a stance as our leaders fail us.
Activists from Palestine Action Scotland sabotaged the internet cables of Edinburgh’s Leonardo factory and sprayed red paint over their fighter jet model displays. In the early hours of Tuesday 28th May, a group opened the box of cables, cut the internet wires, sprayed expanding foam inside the box and spray painted ‘Stop Arming Israel’ on the lid. At the front of the factory, others sprayed the fighter jet display with paint to symbolise the company’s role in spilling Palestinian blood.
BREAKING: Actionists sprayed Leonardo’s fighter jet display after they cut off internet access to the Edinburgh factory which produces targeting systems for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets pic.twitter.com/wShYtb2TtV
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) May 28, 2024
“It is a moral obligation to play our part in disrupting weapons factories in our towns and cities which arm the Gaza genocide. Israel routinely cuts off internet access for Palestinians, massacres families and destroys communities. When our government fails to end our complicity, it’s up to the people to take direct action against the companies making a killing off killing.”
BREAKING: Palestine Action cut Leonardo’s Edinburgh factory’s internet cables, disrupting the producers of targeting systems for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets. pic.twitter.com/u45n1KmSk8
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) May 28, 2024
Leonardo who continue to arm the Israeli military is one of the world’s largest weapons producers. The Edinburgh Leonardo weapons factory specialise in ‘high-energy military lasers’, which are rigged to F-35 fighter jets, which Israel have been using extensively to bomb Gaza. Leonardo also supply Israel with Aermacchi M-346 aircraft and components for its Apache attack helicopters, all while benefitting from millions in Scottish Enterprise funding. The weapons firm also merged with Israeli arms company RADA Electronic Industries, in a move that gives Leonardo a “stable domestic presence in the Israeli industrial context”.
In recent days, Israel has continued to bombard Rafah — where Palestinians were previously told to seek refuge as it was said to be the last “safe-zone” in the besieged Gaza strip. On Sunday, Israeli air strikes burned Palestinians alive in their tents and attacks on the area are continuing, despite the International Court of Justice ruling Israel must stop its bombing campaign. Since October 7th, Israel has killed over 36,000 Palestinians and injured more than 85,000. The occupying forces have used starvation as a weapon of war, cut off internet access and destroyed the majority of Gaza’s infrastructure.
Right on. Bravo to all involved.
(Lord ) David Cameron , the UK Foreign to morality Secretary , has welcomed the IDF’s independent investigation of the ( latest ) ‘tragic mistake ‘ in Gaza .
Well , that’s that sorted !
Has there been any punishment following this action, such as the members being detained etc.?
Strewth I didn’t know that there was factories in Scotland , like this, BAE system yes , but oh my.
A disgrace.
Well done all our activists well done !
Stay safe.
I’m with you.