PRO-PALESTINIAN activists intensified a blockade of an Israeli-French drone factory in Leicester today by obstructing both access roads.

Palestine Action protesters targeted the factory of UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS), a subsidiary of Israeli military technology firm Elbit Systems, for the second day in an effort to disrupt the company’s work.

The group also reported 18 arrests today, although Leicestershire Police said that 26 people had been detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage.