TWELVE Aviva shareholders disrupted the insurer’s AGM today, urging it to stop “propping up companies involved in fossil fuel extraction, the genocide in Gaza and abuse of migrants in detention.”

Activists from Boycott Bloody Insurance blocked access to the company’s board room in a protest against it underwriting and investing in a number of companies, including Serco, Saudi Aramco and Elbit Systems.

Some had to be carried out of the building, while others were escorted, said the campaign group.

Beth Jones, from York, told attendees: “Aviva is investing £2 billion in Israeli weapons companies, bankrolling the slaughter of civilians through companies like Elbit Systems, who market their weapons as battle-tested on Palestinians.”

Boycott Bloody Insurance campaigner Andrew Taylor added: “Aviva insures and invests in companies causing death and destruction across the world.

“We are here today to demand that they end their support for genocide, climate breakdown and the abuse of migrants.

“Our research into the UK insurance market shows that Aviva insures more migrant detention and surveillance contractors than any other company, underwrites oil majors such as Saudi Aramco, and invests billions in fossil fuel and weapons companies.

“Aviva is enabling companies to profiteer from the abuse of migrants. Private companies are raking in millions while subjecting people fleeing war and persecution to cruel and dangerous conditions.

“Aviva likes to present itself as an ethical business, but when you look at the companies it supports, that turns out to be a sham.

“We are calling on Aviva to be stripped of its ethical accreditations and for organisations across the UK to boycott their products and services until that changes.”

Aviva was contacted for comment.