Forty protesters were arrested by the Metropolitan Police after a dramatic demonstration saw activists scale and occupy the roof of the Ministry of Defence's main building in central London.
The group, from the direct action network Palestine Action, stormed the iconic Whitehall building on Tuesday morning. Their demand was unequivocal: an immediate halt to the UK's arms sales to Israel.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing activists using ladders and ropes to climb the facade of the building, swiftly making their way onto the roof. Once in position, they unfurled large banners that read 'MoD Complicit in Genocide' and 'UK Stop Arming Israel', sending a stark visual message to the government officials working below and the public passing by.
Police Response and Roof Clearance
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called to the scene at approximately 11:45 AM. Specialist officers, including police negotiators and those trained in high-access incidents, were deployed to engage with the protesters.
After several hours of attempted negotiation, officers proceeded to physically remove the activists from the roof. The police operation resulted in the arrest of all forty individuals on suspicion of criminal damage and trespassing on a protected site.
A Met Police spokesperson stated: "Officers worked to bring the situation to a safe conclusion. All protesters have been brought to ground level and taken into custody."
The Message Behind the Protest
In a statement released prior to the action, Palestine Action declared the protest was aimed directly at the government's military support for Israel. The group alleges that UK-made components in fighter jets and missiles are being used in Gaza.
"We are here because the Ministry of Defence is the engine of genocide," one activist could be heard shouting from the rooftop. "While the world watches the devastation in Gaza, the UK government and its allies are profiting from the bombs dropping on children."
The protest is part of a sustained campaign by the group, which has previously targeted factories and sites linked to the UK arms industry.
Government and Public Reaction
The demonstration caused significant disruption in the heart of the UK's government district, drawing crowds of onlookers and intensifying the public debate over the UK's arms export licences to Israel.
A government spokesperson condemned the method of protest, stating: "Whilst we respect the right to peaceful protest, trespassing on and damaging a secure government defence site is a criminal act and unacceptable. The police are right to take action."
The forty arrested individuals remain in custody across several central London police stations as investigations continue.
