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.  

And hours after the Leicester factory protest came to an end, Palestine Action announced today that it had occupied another Elbit site in Tamworth, Staffordshire. 

Three activists scaled the Elite KL factory, which produces military technology and hardware for tanks, in a bid to shut down weapons production. 

Palestine Action described efforts by Leicester residents to disrupt arrests as an “act of community solidarity and power.” The group said one supporter had been arrested for trying to give food and water to the activists, who had been occupying the roof of the site since May 19. 

The collective action comes after firefighters, who were called to assist emergency services with the protest last week, decided to leave the site, saying: “The Fire Brigades Union stand in support of Palestinian solidarity and the right to protest.”

A spokesperson from Palestine Action said: “The collective power and solidarity of people in Britain continues to grow in their opposition to the British state’s and police’s complicity in protecting Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, which profits from war crimes, ethnic cleansing and murder globally.”

Leicestershire Police said officers in riot gear had been deployed after protesters fired “missiles” and attempted to blockade the gates. 

Officers arrested five people, including the two rooftop activists, who remained in custody this afternoon. Police said three protesters had been arrested for aiding and abetting aggravated trespass and have since been released on bail. 

The occupation of the Leicester factory began last Wednesday during Israel’s 11-day bombardment of Gaza, which killed 248 people, including 65 children. 

Palestine Action argues that drones manufactured at the Leicester factory are deployed by the Israeli military in the besieged enclave. 

Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe said the direct action at the factory is “indicative of the widespread opposition to war crimes in my home city.”

“The fact that hundreds of Leicester residents came to the aid of activists shows the depth of feeling in our community,” she said.

“Leicester has a proud history of anti-war activism, and this is part of our peaceful tradition of protest.”

Ms Webbe said government failures to end weapons sales to Israel that could be used unlawfully against Palestinians led to Leicester activists “taking matters into their own hands.” 

“I am proud to stand in solidarity with everyone, in Leicester and around the world, who are peacefully protesting against the endless suffering of the Palestinian people,” she added.