Two women arrested after Palestine Action protest on warehouse roof in Highbury Road, Brandon, as MP Nick Timothy criticises group

Two women have been arrested in connection with a Palestine Action protest on a roof at a town industrial estate.

Police were called to Highbury Road, Brandon, shortly after 6.50am yesterday.

Officers had received reports of a group of people on the roof of a warehouse, with some spraying paint on the building and smashing windows.

Members of the Palestine Action group were on the roof of Guardtech Group, a UK subcontractor, over its work with Elbit Systems in Bristol.

On social media, the group said: “Palestine Action are occupying the roof of Guardtech, suppliers to Israel's biggest weapons producer.

“This company makes and repairs clean rooms for Elbit Systems, which are essential for factories to be able to make weaponry to massacre Palestinians.

“Today, we're here to shut it down.”

Officers and specialist negotiators attended the scene and a spokesperson for Suffolk Police said the priority was to bring the incident to a conclusion and ensure the safety of everyone at the scene.

Two women, aged 23 and 21, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage.

They were taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where they remain.

The incident was safely resolved by 9pm.

Nick Timothy, the Conservative MP for West Suffolk, criticised the Palestine Action group on social media.

He said: “This idiot has vandalised a factory and disrupted the work of a local business, all in the name of an organisation that incites criminality and is about to be banned by the Government.

“This is completely unacceptable behaviour and I expect them to face the full force of the law.”

Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the Government’s bid to proscribe it, with a hearing expected on Friday to decide whether the ban can be temporarily blocked, pending further proceedings to decide whether a legal challenge can be brought.

Commenting on the proscription on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The right to protest and the right to free speech are the cornerstone of our democracy and there are countless campaign groups that freely exercise those rights.

“Violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protests.”