HUNDREDS of activists from 130 groups vowed to shut down one of the world’s largest arms fairs in London yesterday.

More than 500 people blockaded the gate to Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) as it opened its doors yesterday morning, according to coalition organisers Shut DSEI Down.

The giant arms extravaganza, running at the ExCeL Centre in Newham until Friday, is expected to welcome 45,000 visitors.

Campaign Against Arms Trade (Caat) said that the government has allowed 51 Israeli arms companies to exhibit at the fair, despite it banning Israeli government delegates following pressure from campaigners last month.

Among them are Israel’s three biggest arms companies fuelling the genocide in Gaza — Elbit Systems, Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for lethal F-35 jets, used to drop 2,000lb bombs in Gaza, as well as BAE Systems, the lead sub-contractor in Britain, are also attending.

Campaigners from Stop The Arms Fair said that protesters managed to disrupt all entrances to the fair and arms dealers were made to “confront the deadly and dirty realities of their business.”

Dr Osborne, a member of Medact, organisers of the health worker bloc, said: “The UK government is allowing multiple companies complicit in the genocide in Palestine, including in the systematic targeting and killing of health workers and hospitals, to showcase their genocide-tested technology at the DSEI arms fair.

“Not only this, but a major sponsor and exhibitor of the conference is Palantir, an AI surveillance and warfare giant whose programmes are currently used by the IDF in Gaza.”

Caat’s Emily Apple said: “Historically, there has always been police repression at DSEI protests, but we anticipate this will be worse this year with the increasingly authoritarian policing we’ve seen used against pro-Palestinian protests.”

The Shut DSEI Down coalition has four demands; that the fair be shut down permanently; that the government impose a full arms and energy embargo on Israel; cuts to public military spending; and the cancellation of a rumoured £2 billion deal between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Elbit Systems.

Private Eye magazine reported last month that Israel’s largest weapons firm is bidding for the Army Collective Training Service contract, which would see the firm train up to 60,000 British soldiers a year.

A spokesperson for the Shut Down DSEI coalition said: “Global North countries such as Britain, the US or France should be ashamed of their deadly co-operation in world domination coming together at the biggest marketplace for war and imperialism that is DSEI.

“We are refusing this complicity and are committed to breaking the loop of military colonialism.”

Three people were arrested at yesterday’s protest for “assaults on police officers,” the Metropolitan Police said.

Protesters are set to greet DSEI attendees with a wall of noise by banging pots and pans later today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Western Gateway at 5pm.

Investigative website Declassified said it was denied media accreditation, despite attending the last two DSEI events.

Reporters Without Borders said the decision by organiser Clarion Events was “anti-democratic” and “suggests there is something to hide.”

Commenting on the fair, an MoD spokesperson said Britain’s defence industry “produces world-class equipment that helps deter conflict,” while the sector supports more than 270,000 jobs.

“The recent Norway deal confirms Britain’s defence industry as world-leading, delivering a £10 billion boost to the UK economy, sustaining 4,000 jobs, and backing more than 400 British companies.”

Business was similarly touted by Defence Minister Lord Coaker in his opening speech at the fair: “Whether you’re a partner country, a partner in industry, an investor or a potential partner, we want to work with you to turn UK defence into an industrial superpower by 2035.”