Five more people have been arrested in connection with a pro-Palestine protest that targeted an Israeli defence company's building in South Gloucestershire last summer. The arrests follow a major police operation involving warrants executed across multiple locations on Tuesday.
The incident occurred at the Elbit Systems UK building near Patchway on August 6 last year. Counter Terrorism Policing South East said protesters forced their way into the facility, causing extensive damage to the property.
Serious assaults during protest
During the break-in, company employees and two police officers suffered serious assaults, according to police reports. The incident prompted a terrorism investigation under Counter Terrorism Policing South East.
The five newly arrested suspects include a 66-year-old man from Bristol, a 20-year-old woman from Whitstable in Kent, and three men from London aged 19, 27 and 33. All five have been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Previous arrests and charges
The suspects remain in police custody following Tuesday's operation. This brings the total number of arrests connected to the August incident to 23 people.
Ten people were initially arrested shortly after the protest last year, with a further eight arrested in November 2024. All 18 of those previously detained have been charged with various offences and are awaiting trial.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
