PALESTINE Action and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign joined forces today to once again shut down weapons manufacturing in Edinburgh.

The action, the second in a month to successfully blockade the gates of the Leonardo site in the city, saw dozens of protesters secure themselves to vehicles to prevent entry.

The Italian-owned arms giant, which raked in £1.2 billion in profit over the last two years and paid out more than £400 million in dividends to its shareholders last year, has become a target for Palestine solidarity actions at its sites across Britain due to its extensive links with the Israeli military.

Despite Israel’s invasion of Gaza being classified as genocide by human rights groups and said to be plausibly so by international courts, the company continues to supply its armed forces with essential parts for Apache helicopters and F-35 fighter jets.

The Edinburgh plant produces the laser guidance systems used to direct the 2,000lb bombs dropped on the people of Gaza.

Campaigners took the opportunity not only to close down production, but to call on the Westminster government to withhold licences to export weapons and military equipment.

They also condemned the actions of the Scottish government which, despite calling for such a ban, have, through their agency Scottish Enterprise, handed Leonardo UK £7m in grants between 2016 and 2020, and a further £786,125 in 2023. 

Branding both governments complicit in the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a spokesperson for Palestine Action said: “While the British and Scottish governments continue to support the Israeli war industry, Palestine Action refuses to permit complicity.

“By shutting down Leonardo, Edinburgh, these activists are preventing the production of Palestinian slaughter.”

Leonardo UK was contacted for comment.