Seven Palestine Action protestors have been arrested over suspected aggravated burglary after Instro Precision at Sandwich was broken into and video released of items being smashed up inside the building.
Activists say they are taking direct action against the manufacture of, or investment in, arms used for genocide of the Palestinians.
The ‘Instro Precision’ factory, used in the manufacture of scopes, sights, and targeting equipment for Israel’s military, has been “stormed and dismantled.”
In London, the offices of ‘Scotiabank’, major investors in Israeli military production, have been blockaded as 10 activists lock-on at each entrance – shutting the bank’s HQ down and demanding it cease its facilitation of genocide.
At Instro Precision Sandwich activists cut through three security fences, breaching the high-security premises at Discovery Park. Some laid ‘stinger’ spike strips at the roads leading to the factory to prevent any vehicular entry, while a smaller contingent broke into the factory itself.
Once inside, the activists say they “began dismantling technology, machinery and parts used to produce weapons of war, in order to prevent the export of arms to Gaza.”
BREAKING: Actionists cut through 3 security fences to get inside Elbit’s ‘highly secure’ compound and break into Kent’s Israeli weapons factory.
Once inside, they begun dismantling machinery, technology and parts used to arm the Gaza genocide. pic.twitter.com/5yyQXJYbiA
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 17, 2024
The Instro site, on Artillery Way in the Discovery Park estate, is owned by Elbit Systems, which provides a range of weaponry, including 85% of their military drone fleet and land-based equipment.
In 2019 the firm moved to Discovery Park from Broadstairs, where it had been the target of numerous protests. There have also been several protests at its site in Discovery Park which have escalated since October due to armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian groups taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Kent Police was called to a report of a protest at Discovery Park, Sandwich shortly before 3.30am. Officers are currently at the scene and seven people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary. They have been taken into custody and an investigation into the incident is underway.”
