Three men arrested in Edinburgh over alleged terror offences

Three men have been arrested over alleged terrorism offences in Edinburgh after being accused of displaying signs showing support for a proscribed organisation.

Police Scotland said a 58-year-old man was arrested near the Scottish Parliament on Monday afternoon.

The force said two men, aged 78 and 60, were also charged with the same offence at a protest in Edinburgh on Saturday.

In recent days more than 100 people protesting the decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terror group have been arrested across the UK.

The arrests in Edinburgh were confirmed as three women appeared in court charged with terrorism offences after a van was driven into the fence of a defence factory in the capital.

The suspects were arrested following the incident at Leonardo UK's facility on Crewe Road North on Tuesday.

Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, Susan Riddell, 42, and Naomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, were all charged with malicious mischief which was "aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection".

Ms Riddell was also charged with an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 which was "aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection".

Ms Fitzherbert, of London, and Ms Riddell, of Glasgow, made no plea, were committed for further examination and granted bail.

Ms Stubbs-Gorman, of Glasgow, also made no plea but her application for bail was continued and she is due to appear again on Tuesday.

The van was driven into the perimeter fence surrounding Leonardo UK's Edinburgh facility on Tuesday

The Shut Down Leonardo campaign has said it was protesting against the company's laser targeting system, which it claims is used by the Israeli military.

Leonardo said it does not supply equipment directly to Israel and that its main customer is the UK's armed forces.

Dozens of pro-Palestine protesters held a demonstration outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court ahead of the hearing.

Meanwhile, counter-terrorism officers have also been investigating reports that people on a pro-Palestinian march in Edinburgh were wearing T-shirts and holding banners expressing support for direct-action group Palestine Action, which was banned as a terrorist organisation in June.

That means being a member of, or supporting, Palestine Action is a criminal offence.

Thousands of people marched through the Scottish capital on Saturday demanding an end to the bloodshed in Gaza.

Demonstrations also took place in London, Manchester, Bristol and Truro, leading to more than 100 arrests.