Activists blockade entrance to Leonardo UK Southampton's factory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 11 DECEMBER 2024

Southampton, United Kingdom – Early on the morning of 11th December 2024, as Israel’s genocidal onslaught on the Palestinian people rages on, a group of dedicated local activists and anti-war campaigners blockaded the entrance to Leonardo UK’s Southampton site for 2 hours. Countless vehicles, including delivery vans and trucks, were prevented from entering the site between 8 and 10 am this morning, with drivers being directed away from the site by security guards and police.

The blockade, organised by Shut Down Leonardo UK, came less than 24 hours after activists managed to close both entry gates to the Leonardo UK Edinburgh site which manufactures components for the F35 Lightening II fighter jets being used by Israel in its current genocide in Gaza.

The two actions, held on consecutive days, show the strength of feeling of local residents who want arms companies complicit in war crimes out of their cities, and are calling for a ban on all UK export licences to Israel, backed by the majority of UK citizens. According to a recent briefing by CAAT (Campaign Against Arms Trade), F35 components are exempt from the recent, farcical partial ban on UK arms exports to Israel. This means that Leonardo UK’s activities are unaffected by the recent ban, and activists up and down the country will continue to oppose UK arms companies’ role in propping up Israel’s military complex in violation of international humanitarian law.  

Regular vigils against the Leonardo UK Southampton factory site to draw attention to the factory’s complicity in the ongoing attacks against Palestinians take place on alternative Wednesdays from 4 to 5.30 pm outside the Millbrook site, and from 5 to 6.30 pm on the green outside Southampton Civic Centre.

Background information

Leonardo UK Southampton

The Southampton site, which specialises in infrared detectors and thermal imaging sensors used for missile guidance and target identification and tracking, collaborates closely with the Edinburgh factory which is a known production site for the F35 fighter jets used by Israel in its genocidal onslaught against Gaza.

Shut Down Leonardo UK targets Leonardo UK bosses, shareholders and investors who have raked in a staggering £1.9 billion in profit at the expense of Palestinian civilians, particularly women and children, as well as aid workers, medics and journalists. Protests will continue until all UK arms exports to Israel are stopped.  

Shut Down Leonardo UK – Southampton

https://www.facebook.com/shutdownleonardosouthampton/

https://twitter.com/ShutDownLeoSton

https://www.instagram.com/shutdownleonardosouthampton/ 

Campaign Against Arms Trade briefing – Arming Genocide UK Arms Sales to Isreal, the partial export licence suspension and the F-35 exemption

https://caat.org.uk/publications/the-uk-governments-partial-suspension-of-arms-export-licences-to-israel-and-the-f-35-exemption/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHGWC5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXzvMmyG0K8B2V VrdBmtoZ01S5TXzXO-EfjxhozpnlJgmT08uRdWc8rNbw_aem_Yl-HxqJD-ORTvz28hzuYWw

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