Protesters blockade Elbit Systems factory over Israel weapons supply

Nine activists barricaded access to an Elbit Systems facility in Staffordshire by fixing themselves to five ‘lock-ons’, the direct-action group Silence Elbit Drones said. The group told Al Jazeera that the move was intended to interrupt the factory’s day-to-day operations.

Silence Elbit Drones has framed the action as a response to Elbit Systems’ role in supplying military equipment to Israel. Audrey Corno, a spokesperson for the group, described the protest as an effort to disrupt the company’s activities over those supply links.

Protesters employing ‘lock-on’ devices are using a tactic designed to slow dismantling and prolong their presence at a site, which can temporarily limit access for employees and deliveries. The group’s statement to the media positioned the blockade within a broader campaign against the company’s involvement in arms provision.

Al Jazeera reported the protesters’ claims and spoke with the group’s spokesperson; the outlet’s report was the source of the details about the number of participants, the methods used, and the stated motive behind the action.