FOUR more Palestine solidarity protesters stood trial in Glasgow today in the aftermath of a “police riot” in Govan last July.

The Thales factory in Govan had become a focus for protest over the company’s involvement in the development of the Watchkeeper drone, used to monitor and bomb the people of Gaza by Israeli military.

Fourteen activists were arrested on July 3 2024 after a peaceful 100-strong peaceful picket of the site descended into chaos amid a police kettle and attempted “snatch” arrests.

Police then flanked protesters as they walked into Govan to make their way onto public transport.

But once there they drew batons, charged the group and were later observed kicking protesters while they lay on the ground in what protesters described as the “police riot” that followed, leaving one person with a split scalp and four requiring hospital treatment. 

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the cases against four of those arrested today, admonishing one, accepting guilty pleas from two, and finding the fourth guilty of charges related to the “disorder” on the day.

A comrade of those on trial, who wished not to be named, told the Star: “Police have behaved really, really, badly.

“They have harmed people, and those people are going through an extremely traumatic court process now.

“Police Scotland have this line they are a liberal police force. That's not what I saw.”

On the court action itself, they added: “It’s an insane amount of time and money going into this, and I just wonder what is the point?

“The genocide is still ongoing. Israel is still bombing the Palestinians. They're not letting aid in. There's famine in the country. And this what they’re focusing on?”