Three women have been charged under the Terrorism Act after a van was driven into the fence of an aerospace factory in Edinburgh. The incident occurred at the Leonardo facility on Crewe Road North on Tuesday.
Police Scotland confirmed on Sunday that the women, aged 31, 34 and 42, who were arrested earlier under the Terrorism Act 2000, have now been formally charged. They are expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.
The force’s counter-terrorism unit is leading the investigation, which remains ongoing. Officers have issued an appeal for information to trace the movements of two vehicles: a blue Ford Transit van, seen around Gorgie Road on Monday and Tuesday before the incident, and a white Honda CR-Z, found in a car park on Gorgie Road afterwards.
Police have urged anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference number 0416 of 15 July. Following the incident, a group called Shut Down Leonardo claimed the factory manufactures laser targeting systems for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets. However, Leonardo has stated that it does not supply equipment directly to Israel and that its main customer is the UK armed forces.
