Police were called after protesters from Palestine Action Scotland targeted the factory of arms giant Leonardo in Edinburgh.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Crewe Road North at around 7.50am on Thursday following reports of people on the roof. A police helicopter is also in attendance.
Pictures from the scene show a heavy police presence as demonstrators in red overalls sit on the roof line holding a banner reading ‘Palestine Action’.
Red paint has been lobbed down the side of the building alongside the phrase “Stop Apartheid”.
The campaign group have released a video of their activists smashing up lights and air conditioning units at the site on social media.
A second video shows a protestors daubing paint on the building while their comrades set off red flares.
They tweeted: “Palestine Action Scotland hits Edinburgh factory Leonardo, occupying the roof, tearing the site to pieces & halting its production of Israeli F-35 combat aircraft laser targeting systems.”
A statement from Police Scotland said: "Police were called to a report of a protest at a building on Crewe Road North in Edinburgh around 7.50am on Thursday, 19 January, 2023. Officers are in attendance and are engaging with those present."
They later confirmed that three arrests had been made. They said: "Police were called to a report of a protest at a building on Crewe Road North in Edinburgh around 7.50am on Thursday, 19 January, 2023.
“Damage was caused to the building. Two men, aged 28 and 22, and a 28-year-old woman, have been arrested in connection with the incident and enquiries are ongoing.”
A Leonardo spokesperson said: “This morning a number of protestors illegally climbed on to the roof of a building at the Leonardo UK site in Edinburgh. Leonardo’s site security team and the police are in attendance.
“The safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors, and neighbours is our first priority. No one has been harmed, however there is a risk to the protestors from their activities so we advise that they act with caution.
“Leonardo UK complies fully with all the UK Government’s export control protocols, the legal obligations and the processes in place to operate those protocols. Leonardo supplies the targeting laser for the F-35 aircraft, a platform which is exported by the U.S. In line with U.S. regulations.
“Leonardo has a positive role in safeguarding the UK and its allies. In a presently unstable global climate, our technology is contributing to the protection of democracies and the safety of citizens at home and abroad.”
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