Four arrested and police officer 'bitten' in pro-Palestine protest in Govan
Activists say they wanted to 'disrupt the flow of arms' into Israel by targeting Thales in Glasgow
Four people have been arrested and six police officers were injured in a pro-Palestinian protest in Govan - with one officer bitten on the arm.
Activists blockaded a defence and security company in an effort to disrupt the supply of arms to Israel as they demanded a ceasefire in Gaza.
There were scuffles between the campaigners and police outside the Thales factory on Linthouse Road, Govan, Glasgow, where the protest began early on Wednesday morning.
Six officers were injured, including one who was bitten on the arm.
Two officers attended at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, one was discharged after treatment and the other remains there for further assessment.
Three men aged 18, 28 and 29, and a 21-year-old woman were arrested and charged during the demonstration. They will all be released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date.
'One of our officers was bitten'
Chief Inspector Derrick Johnston said: “We have a legal duty to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest as well as those affected by protest activity, however officers were met with an unacceptable level of hostility and resistance today.
“One of our officers was bitten, assaults are not part of the job and will not be tolerated, and we were fortunately able to arrest the individual responsible.
“When policing any protest our priorities are to ensure the safety of protestors, the public and police officers involved as well as preventing criminal behaviour or disorder and deescalating tensions.
“We are committed to protecting the rights of people who wish to protest, however when this is not done peacefully, officers are required to maintain public order and will exercise their powers of arrest if necessary.”
Disrupting 'flow of arms' to Israel
Thales has had a presence in Scotland for more than 100 years, with two main sites in Glasgow and Rosyth, Fife.
Demonstrators blocked the entrances to the Glasgow site in response to a call from Palestinian civil society for workers to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel.
It comes as Palestinians mark Nakba Day, which remembers May 15, 1948 when some 750,000 of them were displaced from their homes as Israel was created.
Protesters claim Thales is directly involved in producing the Watchkeeper drone and that parts manufactured on the Glasgow site have been sold to the Israeli army.
Demonstrators said they are taking action to create their own arms embargo.
'We are doing the embargo ourselves'
One of those protesting outside the Glasgow factory was Jamie, 32, who works at a Scottish university. He said: "Scotland is a huge part of the UK's bloody links to Israel.
"Our leaders in Holyrood and Westminster aren't taking action, in fact they are actively contributing to these horrors.
"That's why we are doing the embargo ourselves, bringing Scottish solidarity to the people of Palestine who have suffered uncountable horrors and humiliation."
Another protester, Daniel, 47, a care worker, said: "The Israeli government knows there is no safe place in Gaza, even as they tell people to move again. My conscience demands that I do whatever it takes to stop the chain of killing that starts here in my home town."
'We will prosecute'
A Thales spokesperson: "Thales is extremely proud of its role in helping to protect the UK and keep our armed forces safe.
"Regarding exports, Thales adheres to the UK Government's industry control system for overseas sales, one of the most rigorous and transparent of its kind in the world.
"While those outside our site in Glasgow have the right to protest peacefully, we will work with authorities to prosecute anyone who threatens our employees, our property or our important work for the UK armed forces."