Pro-Palestinian protesters ram van through Leicester drone factory gates

Video showed two protesters standing on the van while clashing with security on the ground before police arrived.

Jimmy Nsubuga
·4 min read
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Palestine Action protest (Palestine Action / X)
Pro-Palestine protesters stand on top of a van and let of flares after driving through the gates of a Leicestershire drone factory on Wednesday morning. (Palestine Action / X)

Pro-Palestinian protesters have rammed a van through a drone factory that they claim supplies the Israeli army.

Two people stood on top of the vehicle after it was driven through the site entrance of UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS) in Braunstone, Leicester. The firm has denied it supplies drones to Israel.

Demonstrators set off green and red flares inside the factory gates, as seen by footage shared by Palestine Action on social media.

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Leicestershire Police said it was called to the scene at around 7.50am on Wednesday and that damage was caused to private property and to several vehicles, including police cars.

Three people were arrested in connection with the incident – a 22-year-old from Wembley, a 27-year-old from Manchester and a 60-year-old from Shropshire. All remain in custody.

UAV Tactical Systems in Leicester
The UAV Tactical Systems factory in Leicester has long been at the centre of protests. (SWNS)

Videos posted by Palestine Action on X showed two protesters standing on the van while clashing with security on the ground before police arrived.

The group wrote: "Actionists crash Leicester's Israeli military drone factory. Occupying a van, while drenching the place in red paint, smashed glass and smoke.

"By blocking the only entrance they have halted the export of weaponry to be used in the massacre of Gaza. #ShutElbitDown."

Palestine Action claims the U-TacS factory is responsible for supplying drones that strike civilians in Palestine.

A spokesperson for U-Tacs – which is a subsidiary of arms firm Elbit Systems UK – has previously denied it supplies drones to Israel.

They said: "To be absolutely clear, U-TacS does not supply the Israeli military or Israeli Ministry of Defence."

Road closures were in place for some time and there was some disruption to local businesses in the area, police added.

The Leicester factory has long been at the centre of protests, most of which have been led by Palestine Action.

A planned demonstration outside the factory throughout May saw Leicestershire Police block the road with a large metal barricade.

On 8 October, protestors returned and tried to block workers as they entered the factory on the industrial estate.

Palestine Action vowed to remain at the site until the drone factory closed down.

Yahoo News UK has contacted U-TacS for comment.

Protest was 'irresponsible'

An investigation into what happened has been launched and detectives are appealing for any information or dashcam footage from drivers who may have been in the area at the time.

Police said a proactive policing plan and extra patrols will continue in the area and they will continue to engage with those who were directly impacted by this incident.

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Detective Chief Inspector Chris Gamble said: "No-one was injured as a result of this action but it was irresponsible none the less.

"We support the right to protest peacefully but will take immediate action against those who are seeking to commit crime and damage property.

"We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed these events or from anyone who may have dashcam footage prior to the incident and may have seen the white van on its approach to Meridian Way at approximately 7.45am this morning."