Seven Palestine Action protestors arrested over suspected aggravated burglary on June 17 after Instro Precision at Sandwich was broken into have been bailed pending further enquiries.
An eighth person was also arrested in the West Midlands yesterday (June 19) in relation to the incident and he remains in custody.
The activists, who released video of items being smashed up inside the building, say they 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, they say they “began dismantling technology, machinery and parts used to produce weapons of war, in order to prevent the export of arms to Gaza.”
A glimpse into how Palestine Action destroyed Kent’s Israeli weapons factory.
After seven actionists broke in on Monday morning and caused over £1million worth of damage, the site remains SHUT DOWN. pic.twitter.com/uFuD8r0Uee
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 19, 2024
Palestine Action claims the action has “left the ‘Instro Precision’ site immobilised, unable to produce weapons parts for export to Israel.”
The group adds: “During their 36 hour detention, before their release under strict bail conditions, police interrogators put it to the 7 arrested that over £1,000,000 of damage was caused in their few hours inside the factory.
“Destroying cables on the outside of the factory, and wrecking machinery, computer technology, and parts being produced for Instro’s product line, the action sought to – and has successfully – put the site out of action.”
They #ShutElbitDown! https://t.co/uI7Xl06Wsz
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 18, 2024
A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Seven people arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary following a report of a protest at Discovery Park, Sandwich on Monday 17 June have been bailed pending further enquiries.
“An eighth suspect, a 24-year-old man from Birmingham, was arrested in the West Midlands on Tuesday 19 June in relation to the incident. He remains in custody and an investigation is ongoing.”
The Instro site, on Artillery Way in the Discovery Park estate, is owned by Elbit Systems, which provides a range of weaponry, including military drone fleet and land-based equipment. It also manufactures XACT nv33 Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) for the British Army as part of a contract awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence to the company in 2021.
Instro provides systems to different sectors of the UK military and also to other Aerospace and Defence companies in the UK.
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.
An Instro Precision spokesperson said: “We condemn this illegal and violent action and will work with the authorities to prosecute any person or group threatening the safety of our staff or their important work.
“This facility is designed to meet the requirements of the UK armed forces and in particular support the British Army with a range of state-of-the-art electro optics and night vision systems. It is highly irresponsible to sabotage this work, particularly during a period of global instability.”
