Company linked to arms manufacturer targeted with spray paint and expanding foam

Brighton campaign calling for the permanent closure of an arms & surveillance technology manufacturer reported receiving details of a direct action targeting Smiths Metal. Smiths Metal is a British supplier of raw engineering materials working within various industries including medical, aerospace & weapons manufacturing.

Link to arms manufacturer

The local Horsham branch is claimed to supply materials to L3Harris. The company website states it serves the South East of the UK.

‘DROP L3HARRIS’ and ‘FREE PALESTINE’ was sprayed on the walls of the small branch, with more damage allegedly to outside infrastructure. Activists also allegedly filled locks and vents with expanding foam.

A spokesperson for the activists, Samantha Holden, said:

We unequivocally oppose any company that serves the imperialist machine. Arms manufacturers like L3Harris serve the interests of the ultra-wealthy and powerful that exploit land & people through violence and resource extraction.

We will not have it in our city, we will not have it anywhere, and so long as it continues it will be opposed. Human beings have an irrevocable right to live safely on the land. Arms companies and governments’ Border enforcement agencies are in direct violation of that right.

Any company that facilitates this process, including Smiths Metal, is complicit: so expect resistance!

Relevant context relating to the action

This is not the first action against Smiths Metal, with one of their other branches being targeted in 2024 for supplying materials to Israeli arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems.

Smiths Metal Horsham is the second of local suppliers to L3Harris to be targeted by activists. L&B Plating, a small metal plating company operating in Portslade, was picketed 4 times and also targeted with red paint.

Meanwhile, despite a ceasefire and the resulting media silence, Israel continues to target Gaza.

Details of L3Harris complicity in state violence and war crimes

L3Harris is making bomb release mechanisms for Israeli F-35 fighter jets at its factory in Brighton. The Israeli military is using this model in its assault on Gaza.

The protesters believe that Smiths Metal is involved in making the bomb release mechanisms because it has been seen making deliveries to the L3Harris arms factory on Home Farm Road.

L3Harris has also signed an agreement with Israel to develop a modified version of an American light attack aircraft called ‘Sky Warden’.

L3Harris has also provided surveillance technologies to ICE & Border Enforcement in the US. These same technologies are used by the IDF and at Israeli military checkpoints.

Featured image via Stop L3Harris