ACTIVISTS in Sheffield blockaded an arms manufacturer today, closing down the site for a second time this week. 

Stop Arming Israel stopped traffic from heading into the site from 6am as the first shift arrived for work at Forged Solutions, a company that is part of the F-35 programme. 

Protesters stood in front of the entrance to the site holding banners and a queue of lorries was turned back.

A group spokesperson said: “The Stop Arming Israel group aims not only to target complicity but also direct participation in the genocide in Palestine. 

“Forged Solutions has a long history of supplying parts to companies like Pratt and Whitney and Safran Aero Booster, which go on to make engines for fighter jets like the F-35, F-16 and F-15. 

“All of these planes are used by the occupation in its genocide of the Palestinians, meaning that Forged Solutions is a participant in the genocide.

“While the British Establishment continues to support the zionist occupation and criminalise resistance to genocide, Stop Arming Israel stands firmly with the Palestinians by disrupting the supply of weapons and death.”

The Meadowhall site was also targeted on July 16 and saw over 500 people from across the country protest outside on June 17.

One protester, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “As Sheffield residents, we are left with no choice but to take matters into our own hands and blockade the Forged Solutions factory. 

“We have lobbied the council and the mayoral authority countless times about the city's complicity in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. 

“The most effective action we can take is to directly halt the activities of this factory and disrupt the supply chain of weapons being exported to Israel.”