FIREFIGHTERS have been urged by their union not to assist police in removing pro-Palestine protesters mounting rooftop occupations of British factories manufacturing weapons for Israel.

The solidarity message from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) to its 32,000 members follows an incident in Leicester on Wednesday in which firefighters responded to a call from police to an occupation by supporters of direct action group Palestine Action.

Protesters were targeting Israeli-owned Elbit’s Tactical Systems factory in Leicester.