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ITV News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Palestine Action Group stage rooftop protest at Brandon warehouse in Suffolk
Members of the group Palestine Action have staged a rooftop protest ahead of proposed legislation that will ban the campaign group under anti-terror law. Members of the group climbed on to the roof of the Guardtech Group in Brandon in Suffolk on Tuesday, over its work with Elbit Systems based in Bristol. Elbit Systems is an Israeli defence company whose UK headquarters are based in the south-west of England.. The action comes as a draft order was laid before Parliament on Monday to amend the Terrorism Act 2000 to include Palestine Action as a proscribed organisation. If approved, it would become a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison to be a member of the direct action group or to support it. MPs and peers are expected to debate the legislation on Wednesday and Thursday and if approved, the ban could come into force by Friday. A Suffolk Police spokesman said: "Officers and specialist negotiators are currently at the location and our immediate priority is to bring this to a conclusion and to ensure the safety of everyone at the scene." Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the government's bid, with a hearing expected on Friday to decide whether the ban can be temporarily blocked, pending further proceedings to decide whether a legal challenge can be brought. Commenting on the proscription on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'The right to protest and the right to free speech are the cornerstone of our democracy and there are countless campaign groups that freely exercise those rights. 'Violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protests.'
Powys County Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Palestine Action blocks Israeli defence firm UK site ahead of proscription vote
Palestine Action has claimed to have blockaded the entrance an Israeli defence company's UK headquarters ahead of proposed legislation that will ban the campaign group under anti-terror law. A spokesperson said activists are 'successfully disrupting' business-as-usual at Elbit Systems in Bristol on Tuesday, blocking the only entrance and covering it in red paint 'to symbolise Palestinian bloodshed'. The group also occupied the rooftop of UK subcontractor Guardtech Group in Suffolk, the spokesperson added. The action comes as a draft order was laid before Parliament on Monday to amend the Terrorism Act 2000 to include Palestine Action as a proscribed organisation. If approved, it would become a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison to be a member of the direct action group or to support it. MPs and peers are expected to debate the legislation on Wednesday and Thursday and, if approved, the ban could come into force by Friday. A Palestine Action spokesperson said: 'While the Government is rushing through Parliament absurd legislation to proscribe Palestine Action, the real terrorism is being committed in Gaza. 'Palestine Action affirms that direct action is necessary in the face of Israel's ongoing crimes against humanity of genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and to end British facilitation of those crimes.' A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said officers were called to the Bristol site of Elbit Systems at around 6.30am on Tuesday. 'Officers are responding to a protest involving two people at a premises at the Aztec West Business Park, in Almondsbury,' the spokeswoman said. 'We're committed to facilitating people's right to peaceful protest, but will not tolerate any criminal behaviour.' Officers are also at the scene at the Guardtech Group site in Brandon, Suffolk. A Suffolk Police spokesman said: 'Officers and specialist negotiators are currently at the location and our immediate priority is to bring this to a conclusion and to ensure the safety of everyone at the scene.' Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the Government's bid to proscribe it, with a hearing expected on Friday to decide whether the ban can be temporarily blocked, pending further proceedings to decide whether a legal challenge can be brought. Commenting on the proscription on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'The right to protest and the right to free speech are the cornerstone of our democracy and there are countless campaign groups that freely exercise those rights. 'Violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protests.'
The Independent
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Palestine Action blockades defence company in fresh protest
Palestine Action claims to have blockaded the UK headquarters of an Israeli defence company in Bristol, as the group faces an imminent ban under anti-terror legislation. Activists with the direct action group blocked the sole entrance to Elbit Systems on Tuesday, covering it in red paint "to symbolise Palestinian bloodshed", a spokesperson said. The group claimed it was "successfully disrupting" business-as-usual at the site. Separately, the spokesperson added that activists also occupied the rooftop of UK subcontractor Guardtech Group in Suffolk. The action comes after a draft order was laid before Parliament on Monday, seeking to amend the Terrorism Act 2000 to proscribe Palestine Action. If approved, the legislation would make it a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison, to be a member of or support the direct action group. MPs and peers are scheduled to debate the proposed ban on Wednesday and Thursday. Should it pass, the proscription could come into force as early as Friday. A Palestine Action spokesperson said: 'While the Government is rushing through Parliament absurd legislation to proscribe Palestine Action, the real terrorism is being committed in Gaza. 'Palestine Action affirms that direct action is necessary in the face of Israel's ongoing crimes against humanity of genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and to end British facilitation of those crimes.' A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said officers were called to the Bristol site of Elbit Systems at around 6.30am on Tuesday. 'Officers are responding to a protest involving two people at a premises at the Aztec West Business Park, in Almondsbury,' the spokeswoman said. 'We're committed to facilitating people's right to peaceful protest, but will not tolerate any criminal behaviour.' Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the Government's bid to proscribe it. A hearing expected on Friday to decide whether the ban can be temporarily blocked, pending further proceedings to decide whether a legal challenge can be brought. Commenting on the proscription on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'The right to protest and the right to free speech are the cornerstone of our democracy and there are countless campaign groups that freely exercise those rights. 'Violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protests.'
Glasgow Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Palestine Action blocks Israeli defence firm UK site ahead of proscription vote
A spokesperson said activists are 'successfully disrupting' business-as-usual at Elbit Systems in Bristol on Tuesday, blocking the only entrance and covering it in red paint 'to symbolise Palestinian bloodshed'. The group also occupied the rooftop of UK subcontractor Guardtech Group in Suffolk, the spokesperson added. The action comes as a draft order was laid before Parliament on Monday to amend the Terrorism Act 2000 to include Palestine Action as a proscribed organisation. If approved, it would become a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison to be a member of the direct action group or to support it. MPs and peers are expected to debate the legislation on Wednesday and Thursday and, if approved, the ban could come into force by Friday. A Palestine Action spokesperson said: 'While the Government is rushing through Parliament absurd legislation to proscribe Palestine Action, the real terrorism is being committed in Gaza. 'Palestine Action affirms that direct action is necessary in the face of Israel's ongoing crimes against humanity of genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and to end British facilitation of those crimes.' A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said officers were called to the Bristol site of Elbit Systems at around 6.30am on Tuesday. 'Officers are responding to a protest involving two people at a premises at the Aztec West Business Park, in Almondsbury,' the spokeswoman said. 'We're committed to facilitating people's right to peaceful protest, but will not tolerate any criminal behaviour.' Officers are also at the scene at the Guardtech Group site in Brandon, Suffolk. A Suffolk Police spokesman said: 'Officers and specialist negotiators are currently at the location and our immediate priority is to bring this to a conclusion and to ensure the safety of everyone at the scene.' Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the Government's bid to proscribe it, with a hearing expected on Friday to decide whether the ban can be temporarily blocked, pending further proceedings to decide whether a legal challenge can be brought. Commenting on the proscription on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'The right to protest and the right to free speech are the cornerstone of our democracy and there are countless campaign groups that freely exercise those rights. 'Violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protests.'
South Wales Argus
17 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Palestine Action blocks Israeli defence firm UK site ahead of proscription vote
A spokesperson said activists are 'successfully disrupting' business-as-usual at Elbit Systems in Bristol on Tuesday, blocking the only entrance and covering it in red paint 'to symbolise Palestinian bloodshed'. The group also occupied the rooftop of UK subcontractor Guardtech Group in Suffolk, the spokesperson added. The action comes as a draft order was laid before Parliament on Monday to amend the Terrorism Act 2000 to include Palestine Action as a proscribed organisation. If approved, it would become a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison to be a member of the direct action group or to support it. MPs and peers are expected to debate the legislation on Wednesday and Thursday and, if approved, the ban could come into force by Friday. A Palestine Action spokesperson said: 'While the Government is rushing through Parliament absurd legislation to proscribe Palestine Action, the real terrorism is being committed in Gaza. 'Palestine Action affirms that direct action is necessary in the face of Israel's ongoing crimes against humanity of genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and to end British facilitation of those crimes.' A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said officers were called to the Bristol site of Elbit Systems at around 6.30am on Tuesday. 'Officers are responding to a protest involving two people at a premises at the Aztec West Business Park, in Almondsbury,' the spokeswoman said. 'We're committed to facilitating people's right to peaceful protest, but will not tolerate any criminal behaviour.' Officers are also at the scene at the Guardtech Group site in Brandon, Suffolk. A Suffolk Police spokesman said: 'Officers and specialist negotiators are currently at the location and our immediate priority is to bring this to a conclusion and to ensure the safety of everyone at the scene.' Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the Government's bid to proscribe it, with a hearing expected on Friday to decide whether the ban can be temporarily blocked, pending further proceedings to decide whether a legal challenge can be brought. Commenting on the proscription on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'The right to protest and the right to free speech are the cornerstone of our democracy and there are countless campaign groups that freely exercise those rights. 'Violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protests.'
