Two women arrested after Palestine Action protest on warehouse roof in Suffolk
Two women have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage following a protest at the Guardtech Group warehouse in Brandon, on Tuesday.
Last updated 2nd Jul 2025
Two women, who are believed to be members of Palestine Action have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage following a protest at the Guardtech Group warehouse in Brandon, Suffolk, on Tuesday.
Police were called to Highbury Road shortly after 6.50am on 1 July after reports that a group of people were on the roof spraying paint on the building and smashing windows.
The warehouse is linked to Guardtech Group, a subcontractor for Israeli defence company Elbit Systems.
Officers and specialist negotiators attended the scene to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. The situation was resolved by 9pm.
The two women, aged 23 and 21, were arrested at the scene and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where they remain.
The protest follows wider actions by Palestine Action, including a demonstration at the Elbit Systems UK headquarters in Bristol, where two other people were arrested.
The UK government is currently debating legislation to ban Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. If approved, membership or support of the group could become a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action is preparing a legal challenge against the government’s plan to ban the group under anti-terror laws.
A hearing is expected on Friday to decide whether the proposed ban can be temporarily blocked while further legal proceedings take place to consider the challenge.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says: “The right to protest and the right to free speech are the cornerstone of our democracy and there are countless campaign groups that freely exercise those rights. Violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protests.”