PALESTINE activists shut down an Israeli weapons factory in Staffordshire today after occupying and smashing the roof, wrecking equipment, splashing paint inside the building and setting off flares.

Protesters from Palestine Action raided Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit’s UAV Engines factory at Shenstone in the early hours.

The raid took place days after Elbit announced it was to quit its London headquarters in Kingsway following a series of raids and occupations by the direct action group.

Palestine Action has been targeting Elbit factories and offices in Britain since the group was founded in July 2020.

Elbit had five factories and five office and testing sites across Britain.

One factory at Oldham in Greater Manchester closed permanently and was sold five months ago following 18 months of occupations, protests and blockades by Palestine supporters.

Elbit manufactures drones and other pilotless aircraft used by the Israeli military.

The drones are known to have been used in attacks on Gaza.

A spokesperson for Palestine Action said: “Elbit’s Shenstone site is used for the manufacture of drones which, after being ‘battle-tested’ on Palestinians, are repackaged, rebranded and sold for popular repression across the globe — including by the British police, military, and border forces.

“Palestine Action occupy and shut down these sites to disrupt the war crimes supply chain of drones and drone parts, undermine the profitability of Elbit’s business-of-bloodshed, and end the operations of Elbit in the UK.

“These activists will keep working until the Shenstone site, like all other Elbit sites, is forced to shut down for good — two down, eight to go.”