Three women arrested after pro-Palestine activists plough van into Edinburgh factory
Three women have been arrested after pro-palestine protesters ploughed a van into a fence at a defence manufacturer in Edinburgh.
A large police presence is currently occupying a Morrisons supermarket car park on Ferry Road in the capital next to the Leonardo factory site.
At least five police vans with riot cops were in attendance inside a cordon.
Pro- Palestine demonstrators were earlier seen on top of a grey van.
Police have now arrested three women, aged 31, 34 and 42, in connection with the incident as enquiries continue.
The arms manufacturer was previously targeted by pro-Palestinian protestors for its role in "supplying equipment to the Israeli military".
An eyewitness told Edinburgh Live that police were "cutting into a van". He said: "There's loads of police in helmets and they've surrounded a van parked up against the fence of the factory. It looks like they're trying to get into the van with an electric saw."
In December last year, Leonardo's site in Edinburgh's Crewe Road North was hit by demonstrators twice in the space of a week.
The activists claimed that the factory was supplying parts of Israeli F-35 fighter jets as they said they were shutting down Leonardo to prevent "the production of Palestinian slaughter".
On December 12, the group stationed themselves outside the factory holding banners that read"stop arming genocide." Some windows at the facility were also splashed with red paint.
At the time, a spokesperson for Leonardo insisted the company does not 'supply equipment' direct to Israel.
supply equipment direct to Israel.
"The safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors and neighbours is our first priority. Aggression towards, or the intimidation of, our people, who work hard to support the security and defence of the UK, is not acceptable."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: " Officers were called to an ongoing disturbance in the Crewe Road North area of Edinburgh on the morning of Tuesday, 15 July, 2025.
"Three women, aged 31, 34 and 42, have been arrested in connection and enquiries are ongoing."
Leonardo have been approached for comment.
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