A huge police presence is on the scene of an ongoing protest on Thursday morning at the Edinburgh Leonardo facility in Ferry Road.
According to the eyewitnesses, the Palestine Action group is staging the protest, with several people taking part. Passers-by spotted the group holding a banner, scaling the facility's fence and spraying red paint across the building.
Photos from the scene show masked protestors in red jump suits on the roof of the building setting off smoke grenades.
A heavy police presence in the area has been reported, with numerous police cars and the force helicopter in attendance. Roads near the site on Crewe Road North are being closed to traffic.
READ MORE: Edinburgh man arrested after residential street locked down by 'armed police'
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police were called to a report of a protest at a building on Crewe Road North in Edinburgh around 7.50am on Thursday, January 19, 2023.
"Officers are in attendance and are engaging with those present."
The Leonardo building is understood to have been targeted by the protestors due to their assumed part in the supplying of armour and weapons to the army of Israel. The company is an Italian multinational firm specialising in aerospace, defence and security.
A Leonardo spokesperson said: "This morning, a number of protestors illegally climbed on to the roof of a building at the Leonardo UK site in Edinburgh. Leonardo's site security team and the police are in attendance.
"The safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors, and neighbours is our first priority. No one has been harmed, however, there is a risk to the protestors from their activities, so we advise that they act with caution.
"Leonardo UK complies fully with all the UK Government’s export control protocols, the legal obligations and the processes in place to operate those protocols.
"Leonardo has a positive role in safeguarding the UK and its allies. In a presently unstable global climate, our technology is contributing to the protection of democracies and the safety of citizens at home and abroad."
It is said on their website: "Leonardo's Edinburgh site employs approximately 1,800 employees who specialise in the provision of multi-role surveillance radars and countermeasure systems.
"Originally built in 1943, the site has a rich heritage of innovation, and today it produces world-leading technology, including lasers for the US Army's Apache helicopter, CAPTOR radar for the Typhoon, the Osprey radar for Norway's all-weather search and rescue helicopters (NAWSARH), the Seaspray Radar for the US Coast Guard, and the Raven radar for Saab's Gripen Fighter aircraft."
Police Scotland confirmed on Thursday afternoon that three people had been arrested. A spokesperson said: “Police were called to a report of a protest at a building on Crewe Road North in Edinburgh around 7.50am on Thursday, 19 January, 2023.“
"Damage was caused to the building. Two men, aged 28 and 22, and a 28-year-old woman, have been arrested in connection with the incident and enquiries are ongoing.” adding this to blog
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