LEONARDO UK’s Edinburgh plant was shut down on Wednesday after more than 100 locals blockaded the site in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Gaza.

The protest came hot on the heels of action to disrupt a £250-a-head jamboree for arms dealers in London on Tuesday night, attended by leaders in the war economy such as BAE Systems, Elbit systems and Leonardo UK itself.

The action in Edinburgh is the latest in a series of blockades of the company which coined-in almost £1 billion in profits in the year up to December 2023, as they manufactured hi-tech components including laser-targeting systems for the Lockheed Martin’s F-35 combat aircraft.

The government estimates that as much as 15 per cent of those aircraft favoured by the Israeli military in its ongoing slaughter of the people of Palestine and Gaza is manufactured in sites across Britain.

Asleem, a 29-year-old health charity worker who took part in the blockade, said: “Officially there has been a ceasefire, but the indiscriminate killing and maiming has not ceased. Meanwhile, Leonardo UK receives subsidies from the Scottish government despite its complicity in the occupation of Palestine.”

In a plea to those employed at the plant, Andy, a 30-year-old nurse said: “We want to encourage workers of Leonardo to take action within their trade union to end this F-35 contract with Lockheed Martin and amplify the voices of Palestine Action prisoners who have been on hunger strike in British prisons.”

A Leonardo spokesperson said that it “does not supply equipment direct to Israel,” saying: “Aggression towards, or the intimidation of, our people, who work hard to support the security and defence of the UK, is not acceptable.”