Five people arrested following Christmas Day protest at factory near Lichfield

Staffordshire Police say they were called to reports of demonstrators at a "business premises" near Lichfield at 12.43pm on December 25.

Author: Elliot Burrow & Pol Allingham, PAPublished 29th Dec 2024
Last updated 29th Dec 2024

Five people have been arrested over a protest at a factory on Christmas Day.

Staffordshire Police say they were called to reports of demonstrators at a "business premises" near Lichfield at 12.43pm on December 25.

On the same day, protest group Palestine Action shared a video on X, formerly Twitter, that appeared to show a person hitting a brick wall with a large hammer, and claimed it had targeted Israeli firm Elbit Systems' UAV Engines drone factory in Shenstone, Staffordshire.

Staffordshire Police said three men and two women had been arrested and bailed as officers continue investigations.

The force said a 41-year-old man from Folkestone, Kent, and a 60-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, locking on to a person, object or land to cause serious disruption, conspiring to destroy or damage property, and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.

Another man, 21, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, locking on, conspiring to destroy or damage property, and criminal damage valued over £5,000, it added.

It said a 38-year-old woman, from Folkestone, Kent, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, conspiring to destroy or damage property, and criminal damage to property valued over £5,000.

Another woman, aged 20, from Norwich, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and conspiring to destroy or damage property, according to police.

Elbit Systems has been approached for comment.

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