Investigation Led by Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit After Van Hits Leonardo Factory Fence
Following a vehicular incident where a van was driven into a barrier at a defense manufacturing facility in Edinburgh, three women were taken into custody under the Terrorism Act. The incident involved pro-Palestine demonstrators targeting the factory.
Prior to the incident, Police had set up a perimeter in a Morrisons supermarket parking lot located adjacent to the Leonardo factory site on Ferry Road. The area was heavily guarded by police in riot gear within the established cordon.
Earlier, pro-Palestine protesters were observed on a grey van, and during the event, three women, aged 31, 34, and 42, were taken into custody. The trio has since been detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 after they allegedly drove the van into the factory’s external fence.
Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit is at the forefront of this investigation, which is still active. According to the authorities, the incident was precisely targeted, and there is no anticipated threat to the general public at this time.
The defense manufacturer had been previously accused by pro-Palestinian groups of supplying components to the Israeli military. An eyewitness at the scene reported seeing police officers cutting into a van parked against the factory’s fence, apparently using an electric saw to gain access.
In a related note, Leonardo’s Edinburgh facility on Crewe Road North was targeted twice in one week by demonstrators in December of the previous year.
The protesters claimed the factory was involved in supplying parts for Israeli F-35 fighter jets and expressed their intention to halt what they termed as “the production of Palestinian slaughter.” During one of these demonstrations, the group displayed banners stating “stop arming genocide” and threw red paint on some of the facility’s windows.
In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for Leonardo stated that the company does not directly supply equipment to Israel, adhering strictly to UK government export controls.
The spokesperson also emphasized the company’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its employees, contractors, and neighboring communities, condemning any form of aggression or intimidation against its workforce.
A representative from Police Scotland detailed that the arrests were made following the van crashing into the fence during a disturbance in the Crewe Road North area on a Tuesday morning. They assured the public that the situation was contained, with no broader danger anticipated.
Police Scotland is appealing to anyone who was near Crewe Road North or in the nearby supermarket parking lot during the early hours of that morning and has relevant dashcam footage or witnessed anything suspicious to come forward and assist the investigation by contacting the police using the reference number 0416 of July 15.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
