Latest news with #SusanRiddell
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Susan isn't sitting on the fence over support for Palestinians- Vladimir McTavish
Susam Riddell at the Hot Water Comedy Club With only a week to go until the start of this year's Fringe, there is no such thing as bad publicity. Comedians will do anything for a few column inches at this time of year. However, nobody has ever planned to find themselves up in court on a terrorism charge. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... But that is what happened to a friend of mine, Glaswegian stand-up Susan Riddell on Monday. Last weekend, along with two others, she allegedly drove a van into the fence of arms manufacturer Leonardo in North Edinburgh, in protest against Israeli atrocities in Gaza. The company, formerly BAE Systems, has been alleged to be supplying weapons to the Israeli Defence Force. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Susan has been charged with malicious mischief and contravening the Road Traffic Act. However, as this could be interpreted as supporting Palestine Action, she is also charged under the UK Government's draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act. Photographs of the incident are on the BBC News website. The van has crashed into the perimeter fence of the Leonardo complex from the next door car park at Morrison's on Ferry Road. One panel of the fence has been slightly dislodged. We all remember the images of the bodged attack on Glasgow Airport from 2007. A car rammed into the front of the terminal building at high speed and burst into flames, engulfing the driver in fire, only for the guy to be dragged out of the inferno and given a sound kicking. That was a terrorist incident. Susan's incident took place next the Click & Collect pick-up point. I'd be willing to bet more damage has been done to that fence by careless drivers. This is not so much taking a sledgehammer to break a nut as taking a pneumatic drill to open a pistachio. Riddell has now had to cancel her Fringe show, due to her bail conditions preventing her from entering Edinburgh. Did the judge think she was planning on driving into another fence? In Edinburgh during the festival, where hour-long traffic jams are the norm? She may have had to cancel her 2025 Fringe, but Susan Riddell has one hell of a story to tell next year. That show has already written itself. Personally, I will drive through a fence to see it.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Comedian cancels Fringe show due to "terror" charge bail conditions
A comedian who was charged after a van was driven into the fence of a defence factory has been forced to cancel her Edinburgh Fringe show due to her bail conditions. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Susan Riddell, 42, was one of three women charged in connection with the incident, which saw a van allegedly driven into the perimeter of Leonardo UK's facility on Crewe Road North. The Glaswegian comedian was charged alongside Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, of London, and Naomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, of Glasgow. All three women made no pleas at the court hearing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Riddell's show, titled How Do You Sleep at Night?, had been due to run for a month at the festival, which begins next week. She was set to perform an hour-long performance slot at Monkey Barrel at The Tron from July 28 until August 24. On Tuesday, July 15, a van was driven into the fence of the Leonardo UK building in Edinburgh | Shut Down Leonardo Riddell said in a social media post that she has no choice but to cancel the show as her bail conditions leave her unable to enter the city. The post said: 'Thanks to everyone who has shared my Edinburgh fringe show but unfortunately due to bail conditions I'm barred from Edinburgh for the foreseeable so I won't be doing my show. If you contact the venue you can get a refund.' Many other notable comedians showed support for the post including Paul Black, Diona Doherty and Fern Brady.
STV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Comedian forced to cancel Edinburgh Fringe show after 'terror' charges
A comedian has cancelled her Edinburgh Fringe show due to bail conditions after being charged in connection with a van being driven into the perimeter of a defence factory. Susan Riddell, 42, was one of three women charged in connection with the incident at Leonardo UK's facility in Edinburgh on July 15. A pro-Palestinian group, Shut Down Leonardo Edinburgh, took responsibility for incident, claiming members had damaged the site on Ferry Road. Appearing alongside Riddell at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday was Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, and Naomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31. Each faced a charge of malicious mischief aggravated by reason of having a 'terrorist connection'. Riddell, from Glasgow, faced an additional charge of dangerous driving aggravated by reason of having a 'terrorist connection'. The 42-year-old has now cancelled her Edinburgh Fringe show because she cannot travel into the city under imposed bail conditions. Her new show, How Do You Sleep at Night?, was originally due to run for a month at the festival, which begins next week. The comedian's hour-long performance had a slot at Monkey Barrel at The Tron from July 28 until August 24. In an Instagram post, Ms Riddell said: 'Thanks to everyone who has shared my Edinburgh fringe show but unfortunately due to bail conditions I'm barred from Edinburgh for the foreseeable so I won't be doing my show. 'If you contact the venue, you can get a refund.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Comedian cancels Fringe show over bail terror charge conditions
Comedian Susan Riddell was one of three women charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 after the incident at the Leonardo factory in Crewe Road North, Edinburgh on Tuesday, July 15. At a private hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, she made no plea to a charge of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection". Her new show titled How Do You Sleep at Night? had been due to run for a month at the festival from next week. READ MORE: Donald Trump protest planned near mother's birthplace during Scotland visit On the official Fringe site, the show is now listed as "cancelled". In an Instagram post, Riddell said: "Thanks to everyone who has shared my Edinburgh fringe show but unfortunately due to bail conditions I'm barred from Edinburgh for the foreseeable so I won't be doing my show." Bail restrictions impose the Glasgow-based comedian from travelling into the city. Riddell is a BBC regular, and has written and starred in her own BBC mini-sitcom pilot Dregs. READ MORE: News organisations express concern over starvation facing journalists in Gaza The protest Riddell allegedly took part in alongside Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, of London, and Naomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, of Glasgow was part of the Shutdown Leonardo campaign. The Leonardo factory has been subject to numerous protests amid Israel's genocide in Gaza. Last November, for example, campaigners shut down the factory by blockading the entrance. Leonardo produces weapons for the Israeli military including guns used in the maritime blockade of Gaza and its wholly-owned subsidiary RADA Electronic Industries makes software which supports the country's 'Iron Fist' system which provided cover for tanks used in the ground invasion and levelling of Gaza, according to the Who Profits Research Centre.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Comedian Susan Riddell cancels Fringe show after terror charge
Comedian Susan Riddell has cancelled her Edinburgh Fringe show because she cannot travel into the city under bail conditions imposed after a van was allegedly driven into a defence factory Riddell was one of three women arrested in connection with the incident at Leonardo UK's facility on Crewe Road North last week. At a private hearing via videolink at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, she made no plea to a charge of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection".Her new show How Do You Sleep at Night? had been due to run for a month at the festival, which begins next week. Ms Riddell is a regular panellist on BBC Scotland's Breaking the News and The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected, and recently presented BBC Edinburgh Unlocked. She has also written and starred in her own BBC mini-sitcom pilot an Instagram post, Ms Riddell said: "Thanks to everyone who has shared my Edinburgh fringe show but unfortunately due to bail conditions I'm barred from Edinburgh for the foreseeable so I won't be doing my show."The Glasgow-based comedian's hour-long show had a 19:15 slot at Monkey Barrel at The Tron from 28 July until 24 her bail conditions have restricted her travel into the capital. She was charged alongside Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, of London, and Naomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, of Glasgow - all of whom made no pleas at the court hearing. Ms Riddell was also charged with an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 which was "aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection".The Shut Down Leonardo campaign had said it was protesting against the company's laser targeting system, which it claims is used by the Israeli said it does not supply equipment directly to Israel and that its main customer is the UK's armed forces.
