HUNDREDS of protesters tried to resist the arrest of activists occupying an Israeli arms factory in Leicester on Monday night.

Local supporters barricaded the entrance of Elbit’s UAV Tactical Systems factory to disrupt police efforts to remove two arrested activists following a six-day occupation of the site. 

The activists, who are members of Palestine Action, were eventually removed and taken to the police station after riot police forcibly dispersed crowds outside the gates. The direct action group said that supporters managed to delay the arrests for about six hours.