Seventh arrest following ram raid at defence firm

A seventh person has been arrested following an apparent ram raid.

Members of the campaign group, Palestine Action, allegedly used a vehicle to ram the entrance of the Bristol HQ of defence technology firm Elbit Systems on Bolingbroke Way in Patchway, on the outskirts of the city, shortly before 04:00 BST on Tuesday.

A woman in her 50s, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and affray. Officers also arrested six others aged between 20 and 30-years-old.

They all remain in custody, police said.

During the incident, two officers were assaulted with a sledgehammer, Avon and Somerset Police said.

One of the officers was taken to hospital with injuries to her back and has since been discharged, while the other officer received medical treatment at the scene after being struck on the back of his legs.

An employee of the business was also treated by paramedics for an injury to their head.

Police said sledgehammers, axes, whips and other homemade weapons were seized by officers at the scene.

Palestine Action says it aims to disrupt arms sales to Israel, and claims Elbit Systems UK sells equipment to the Israeli Defence Forces.

Elbit Systems UK Limited has previously said in court it does not supply Israel with arms.

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