Arrests after drone factory protest

The factory has seen several protests in recent years

Four people have been arrested following a protest near a drone factory in Leicester.

Campaign group Palestine Action held a demonstration at Meridian Business Park, home to UAV Tactival Systems, on Monday morning.

Leicestershire Police said they received a report a group of people had blocked two entrances to the site and some had locked themselves on to vehicles.

Three women aged 31, 23 and 20, and a 24-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and remained in custody, the force said.

It added access to the site had been restored but officers would remain in the area for "the foreseeable future".

UAV Tactical Systems is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems UK, which in turn is a subsidiary of international defence electronics company Elbit Systems.

Israel-based Elbit Systems makes drones used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

However, a UAV Tactical Systems spokesperson said the UK subsidiary was involved in the production of drones for the British Army and did not supply the Israeli military.

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