FIVE Palestine activists have been arrested after raiding an Israeli-owned arms factory in Staffordshire.

Volunteers from direct action group Palestine Action targeted UAV Engines in Shenstone on Thursday as part of a two-year campaign to shut down Israeli-owned arms company Elbit Systems.

Elbit’s factories in Britain supply the Israeli military with drones and pilotless warplanes, which Palestine Action says have been used in attacks on the Gaza Strip.

A Palestine Action statement said: “One activist glued themselves to the site, whilst others held their ground against guards. 

“Paint was sprayed on the site. Blood-red paint was hurled at the security office, emblematic of Elbit’s business being built on the immiseration of Palestinians. 

“The activists disrupted site production and with it the manufacture of drones destined for Israel.

“Two actions have been taken at the site in the prior month, with activists seeking to ‘dismantle the kill chain crucial in the land grabs, massacre and surveillance of Palestine by the Israeli settler-colonial occupation.”

Since the start of the campaign, Elbit has permanently closed one of its five factories in Britain – in Oldham – and one of the company’s headquarters offices.

“When we strike at Elbit, we challenge not only the colonial violence they are responsible for but also the violence of borders and policing,” the statement continued.

“They ravage countries, forcing citizens to flee, then when they try and seek sanctuary in Britain, they face surveillance at the border, aided by Elbit technologies.”

Staffordshire Police was invited to comment on the arrests. Elbit has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for comment.