UPDATE: Activists remain on roof as large police presence at scene

A FACTORY in Glasgow has been forced to evacuate and halt operations due to Palestine Action Scotland activists.

A team of six activists made their way onto the roof of the Thales Glasgow building in Govan in the early hours of this morning.

They say they are currently occupying the building, rendering it unusable and forcing workers to evacuate.

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Inside the factory, they say they have dismantled and destroyed factory equipment and facilities.

The group claim Thales is "one of the world's largest arms companies - producing armoured vehicles, missile systems and military UAVs (drones) - in particular, the Watchkeeper drone, used for surveillance and combat on captive populations".

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Police Scotland officers are currently at the scene.

A force spokesperson said: "Around 6.25am on Wednesday, June 1, police were called to a report of a demonstration within the grounds of a business premise in Linthouse Road, Govan, Glasgow. Officers remain at the scene. 

"Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation that puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do.

"We have a duty under the European Convention on Human Rights to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest balanced against the rights of the wider community."

A Thales spokesperson said: “We can confirm we are working with the police to resolve this incident at our Glasgow site. The safety of our employees remains our primary concern at this time.

“The defence sector is proud to support our Armed Forces and security services with the equipment they need to protect our national security.

“Defence companies in Scotland and across the UK provide thousands of rewarding, high value, and long-term jobs. The sector works within UK ethical and transparency standards that are among the most robust of any country in the world.

“The UK defence and security industry works within robust ethical standards that are among the highest found anywhere in the world, and treats its responsibilities under the law with the utmost seriousness.”