Palestine protestors condemned by residents of Powys town

Members of Palestine Action, who describe themselves as being opposed to the occupation of Palestine by Israel, attacked Teledyne Labtech Ltd, an American-owned weapons plant based on Presteigne’s Broadaxe Business Park, early on Friday.

Protestors smashed their way in at around 7.30am. Armed with sledgehammers and wearing balaclavas, they broke windows and doused the outside of the building in red paint, before gaining access to the building and destroying computers. 

Two protestors took to the roof but were eventually talked down by police around 11am, with Dyfed Powys Police confirming a 34-year-old man and 39-year-old woman were arrested after leaving the roof. 

They remain in police custody, with the force stating that four arrests were made in total.

John Beddoes School, on nearby Broadaxe Lane, was locked down during the incident, with pupils eventually sent home for the day, while Joe Deakins Road, which runs outside the business park, was shut, with police and firefighters a heavy presence throughout the day.

Palestine Action released a statement, saying the protest was a result of Labtech’s involvement in supplying military hardware to Israel – but Presteigne residents were left unimpressed. 

Palestine Action protestors broke into and destroyed equipment at Teledyne Labtech Ltd in Presteigne. Pics by Vladimir Morozov

One man who lives near to the factory said: “It’s ridiculous and pathetic. How will this help them?”

Another man, who wished to remain anonymous, told us: “I know the company makes circuit boards, but it’s stupid, I don’t agree with what they’re doing at all. It will upset our friends who’ve got kids at the school. 

“They have a cause but I think the action is pointless. The Israelis need the radar to spot the rockets they keep launching into Israel, so I’d say it’s a worthy cause (the work done at Labtech). Apparently, they didn’t even attack the part of the factory that makes the chips for radar. 

“It’s local people that are worst affected, the number of good employers around here is few and far between.”

A woman who also lives nearby and was left wondering if she would be able to return home asked: “Why couldn’t they have a clear protest, why did they have to cause all that damage? 

“I don’t understand them and I’m not interested (in their cause). There’s more things going wrong in this country. 

“I don’t believe in what they’re doing. It’s a free country and I believe in protesting but there’s no need for causing damage. It’s the local workers who will be worst affected.”

The secondary school was deserted around midday, with one remaining member of staff confirming that staff and pupils had been sent home for security reasons. “We did what we were told by the authorities,” they said. 

“All the children were safe and everyone was fine. We know there were armed police and a helicopter (on the scene). To put our school children in any form of danger is what I don’t agree with.” 

“Palestine Action vow to continue this action for as long as possible to stop the manufacture or shipment of Israel’s drone technologies and military gear,” the group said in a statement on its website.

“Teledyne Technologies, and its subsidiary E2V Technologies, hold weapons export licences for both Israel and India, where their surveillance and targeting systems are used in the repression and killing of Palestinian and Kashmiri civilians. 

“Teledyne produces image sensors for military applications, as well as high-resolution surveillance technology for Israel’s illegal apartheid wall. Israel’s armed drone fleet, deployed in successive assaults on Gaza since the 51-day attack in 2014, are also outfitted with Teledyne targeting systems, which enables Israel to precision target children and schools. 

“Teledyne Technologies’ products are therefore directly attributable to the surveillance and murder of thousands of Palestinians.

“For over two years, Palestine Action’s campaign has primarily focussed on Elbit Systems – Israel’s largest arms firm – and has seen two of their sites forced to close permanently. 

“Britain is now a hostile environment for all companies involved in the brutalisation and murder of Palestinians. Elbit Systems is one such company, but Teledyne Technologies are another major player.

“They supply surveillance equipment for Israel’s apartheid wall, and targeting systems for their fleet of combat drones. Tackling the imperialist hydra means cutting off all its heads, so we will shut down each and every company complicit in the ongoing colonisation of Palestine.”

Dyfed Powys Police revealed in an updated statement on Friday afternoon that they had been called to the premises following reports of a burglary: “We were called to reports of a burglary at a property in Broadaxe Business Park at around 6.35am,” said the force.

“Officers attended and promptly arrested two women, aged 65 and 41, on suspicion of burglary, when it was established they were part of a protest group.

“Two of the group had made their way to the roof of the property. Following communication with officers, they came down at around 10.45am and the 34-year-old man and 39-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

“All remain in police custody. Enquiries are ongoing.”