Eight arrested as protesters block road to ‘Israeli drone factory’

Police have arrested eight people after a road was blocked outside a factory in Staffordshire which protesters claim has supplied Israel with hardware for military drones.

Staffordshire Police said seven men and one woman were detained in Shenstone, near Lichfield, on suspicion of breaching a high court order.

Members of London Palestine Action and the Boycott IsraelNetwork organised the protest against UAV Engines in Shenstone and separate business premises in Tamworth.

Confirming that all eight arrests were made in Shenstone, Chief Inspector Steve Smith said: “We have continuously provided protesters with the opportunity to safely and peacefully comply with directions which would allow them to continue their protest lawfully.

“At Shenstone a number of protesters locked themselves to fencing and others blocked the road.

“A civil injunction is in place around this location so police have the power to arrest anyone breaching this injunction.”