Latest news with #NiaomiStubbs-Gorman
Daily Record
15 hours ago
- Daily Record
Two people charged after Pro-Palestine protestors 'blocked' Edinburgh defence factory
A man and a woman have been charged over the incident at the Leonardo's Edinburgh. Two people have been charged after Pro-Palestine protestors reportedly 'blocked' the entrance to an Edinburgh arms factory yesterday. During the early hours of Monday August 18, demonstrators parked a van at the Crewe Road North Leonardo site. One activist appeared to be locked inside with a Palestine flag while another was 'locked' to the top of the vehicle. In a bid to impede access and shut production down, the factory was also targeted with glass jars which were filled with red and green paint. Police Scotland, who deployed officers to the scene, have arrested and charged 35-year-old women and a 40-year-old man in connection with the incident. Both are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date. This is the second action by Shut Down Leonardo Edinburgh. The group launched with an action at the factory on July 15. Last month, three women appeared in court charged with malicious mischief after a van was allegedly driven into its fence. Niaomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, Susan Riddell, 42, and Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, all appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court via video-link. The trio made no plea on charges of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection". Riddell was also charged under the Road Traffic Act 1988, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection". The Leonardo factory has been previously targeted by pro-Palestinian protestors over claims that it supplies equipment used by the Israel Defense Forces - specifically guidance kit for F-35 jets. In December last year, Leonardo's site in Edinburgh's Crewe Road North was hit by demonstrators twice in the space of a week. 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. A spokesperson for Shut Down Leonardo said: "With most world leaders either ignoring Israel's genocide in Gaza, or actively involved in it, we cannot look aside while our Palestinian brothers and sisters are being exterminated. "By shutting down Leonardo, we hope to disrupt the supply chain to the deadly F-35 war planes." A spokesperson for Leonardo insisted in December that 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: "Around 6.15am on Monday, 18 August, 2025, we were called to a report of a protest outside a business premises in the Crewe Road North area of Edinburgh. "A 35-year-old women and a 40-year-old man have been arrested and charged in connection. "Both are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Pro-Palestine protestors 'block' Edinburgh factory owned by defence company
Leonardo's Edinburgh site has been the target of Pro-Palestine protestors in recent months over claims that its supplying equipment used by the Israel Defense Forces. Protestors have reportedly 'blocked' the entrance to an Edinburgh arms factory as police rush to the scene. Activists parked a van at the Crewe Road North Leonardo site during the early hours of Monday August 18. One demonstrator appeared to be locked inside while another was 'locked' to the top of the vehicle. The factory was also targeted with glass jars, filled with red and green paint in a bid to impede access, and shut production down, reports Edinburgh Live. Police officers can be seen deployed to the scene after being made aware of the incident. This is the second action by Shut Down Leonardo Edinburgh. The group launched with an action at the factory on July 15. Three women appeared in court last month charged with malicious mischief after a van was allegedly driven into its fence. Niaomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, Susan Riddell, 42, and Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, all appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday via videolink. The trio made no plea on charges of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection", after a van was allegedly driven into the fence of the Leonardo factory in the Crewe Road North area of the capital on July 15. Riddell was also charged under the Road Traffic Act 1988, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection". During a short private hearing the Sheriff granted Fitzherbert, of London, and Riddell, of Glasgow, bail. Stubbs-Gorman, of Glasgow, had her application for bail continued one day and will appear before the court on Tuesday. The Leonardo factory has been previously targeted by pro-Palestinian protestors for its role in supplying equipment used by the Israel Defense Forces - specifically guidance kit for F-35 jets. A spokesperson for Shut Down Leonardo said: "With most world leaders either ignoring Israel's genocide in Gaza, or actively involved in it, we cannot look aside while our Palestinian brothers and sisters are being exterminated. "By shutting down Leonardo, we hope to disrupt the supply chain to the deadly F-35 war planes." In December last year, 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: "Around 6.15am on Monday, 18 August, 2025, we were called to a report of a protest outside a business premises in the Crewe Road North area of Edinburgh. "Officers are in attendance and enquiries are ongoing. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Record
22-07-2025
- Daily Record
Three men arrested under Terrorism Act after Scottish Parliament protest
Three men aged 78, 60 and 58 years have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with alleged support for a proscribed organisation. Three men have been arrested in Edinburgh under the Terrorism Act 2000 after they were accused of displaying signs showing support for a proscribed organisation. A 58-year-old man was arrested near the Scottish Parliament on Monday, July 21, with two others, aged 60 and 78, detained at a protest on Saturday. Reports are due to be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in all cases. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Three men aged 78, 60 and 58 years have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with alleged support for a proscribed organisation. "Reports will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and enquiries are ongoing.' The identity of the banned group has not yet been revealed. The latest arrests were confirmed by Police Scotland as three women appeared in court on Monday after a van was allegedly driven into a fence at an Edinburgh arms factory last week. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Niaomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, Susan Riddell, 42, and Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, all appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday via videolink. The trio made no plea on charges of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection", after a van was allegedly driven into the fence of the Leonardo factory in the Crewe Road North area of the capital on July 15.
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Three women appear in court after van 'driven into arms factory fence' in Edinburgh
The trio made no plea on charges of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection", after a van was allegedly driven into the fence of the Leonardo factory. Three women have appeared in court charged with malicious mischief after a van was allegedly driven into a fence at an Edinburgh arms factory. Niaomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, Susan Riddell, 42, and Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, all appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday via videolink. The trio made no plea on charges of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection", after a van was allegedly driven into the fence of the Leonardo factory in the Crewe Road North area of the capital on July 15. Riddell was also charged under the Road Traffic Act 1988, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection". During a short private hearing the Sheriff granted Fitzherbert, of London, and Riddell, of Glasgow, bail. Their next appearance at court is to be confirmed. Stubbs-Gorman, of Glasgow, had her application for bail continued one day and will appear before the court on Tuesday. Supporters of the three women held a demonstration outside the court before their appearance, many waving Palestinian flags or holding placards with pro-Palestinian slogans. Jessie Normaschild, 67, who was at the demonstration holding a Campaign Against Arms Trade banner, said she was attending to show support for the three women, and to protest about government support for arms manufacturers. "Leonardo is a big arms factory in Edinburgh, and it makes the F-35 (fighter jet) targeting system," she said. "The F-35s are being used to bomb Gaza. And we don't want Leonardo in Edinburgh. We don't want Scottish Government money, taxpayers' money, to fund Scottish Enterprise to give the money to Leonardo and Raytheon and BAE." Leonardo previously said it does not supply equipment directly to Israel and that its main customer is the UK Armed Forces. On Sunday Police Scotland said its counter-terrorism unit is leading the investigation into the incident, and that inquiries are ongoing. The force also issued an appeal for information to trace the movements of two vehicles. One is a blue Ford Transit van which was seen around Gorgie Road on Monday and Tuesday prior to the incident. The other is a white Honda CR-Z which was found in a car park on Gorgie Road after the incident. Police have asked anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference number 0416 of July 15.
