A group of anti-Israel activists succeeded on Monday in breaching the security system of the Elbit Systems offices in the city of Kent in the United Kingdom and penetrating into the secure building containing military machinery and technology, some of which is used by the IDF in Gaza, according to reports in the British media.
This is not the first time that such events have taken place against defense industry companies in Great Britain, according to reports. British media reported that activists from the Palestine Action group broke into the Instro Precision complex in the early hours of the morning, breaking the front door and causing damage to military equipment they found there and which they claim is used by the IDF.
Instro Precision, specializing in precision instruments and military targeting systems, is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense electronics company, acquired in 2014.
Pro-Palestinian activists claim to break into, vandalize Israeli defense firm's UK plant
(Video: from X)
In a video accompanying a statement posted to social media, three activists dressed in red jumpsuits and with their faced covered are seen breaking down the front door with a hammer. Using an iron rod, one of the activists is seen causing damage to computers and products that are on the production line in what looks like a factory. Shortly before the break-in, dozens of activists who arrived at the scene broke their way into the secure compound, and placed spikes on the road leading to the factory in order to prevent vehicles from reaching the scene, thus delaying the security forces and the police.
In the end, police forces arrived at the scene and arrested between seven and 10 of the activists on suspicion of burglary under serious circumstances. The police announced that they were called to the scene following a report of an unusual demonstration in the area at 3:30 a.m.
A week ago, demonstrators from the same organization, Palestine Action, attacked Barclays bank branches across the UK, smashed windows and threw red paint on the bank buildings in London, Bristol and Manchester. Photos distributed by the activists show shattered windows and a great deal of destruction in the bank branches. Graffiti was also sprayed in the center of Bristol.
The organization announced that "Barclays Bank is financing climate damage and genocide in Palestine. Decades of polite campaigning, writing letters and lobbying members of parliament have failed. We will continue to escalate our steps until Barclays stops financing genocide and climate destruction."