People Against Genocide abseil into UAV Tactical Systems factory in Leicester

From approximately 3am on Friday 24 April, People Against Genocide began occupying the roof of the Leicester factory of UAV Tactical Systems. Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons maker, owns the company. UAV Tactical Systems produces drones for the Israeli military’s killer drone fleet, of which Elbit supplies over 85%.

Then at approximately 10am, an action taker from the group occupying the roof abseiled into the factory through a hole made with power tools. Whilst abseiling into the weapons factory, the action taker proceeded to damage the ceiling and air supply to the clean room.

The clean room is used to make essential components for Israeli military drones and, once contaminated, it could be out of use for several months.

The action involved four people from direct action group People Against Genocide. They successfully evaded recently-increased security patrols at the plant, and used 10m extension ladders to ascend over razor-wire fencing, gaining access to the factory roof. The team next began to use high-grade power tools to cut their way through the roof, to damage weaponry inside.

UAV Tactical Systems was originally a joint venture between Elbit and French arms giant Thales. But since January 2026, the Israeli weapons firm has owned the company entirely.

In addition to other military drones, UAV Tactical Systems is responsible for developing the Watchkeeper drone, based on Elbit’s Hermes 450 drone which has been central to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and linked to the killing of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen in April 2024.

The UAV Tactical Systems plant has been the scene of numerous protests and actions over the years.

On today’s action, a spokesperson for People Against Genocide said:

Israel continues to slaughter people across West Asia, with weapons manufactured in the UK. We cannot stand idly by while Elbit continues to manufacture death and destruction here in Leicester.

Petitions, protests and lobbying decision makers who are actively involved in the Gaza genocide, has unsurprisingly, failed to create necessary change. Therefore, rather than appeal to politicians or the government, we’re bypassing the complicit decision makers and are taking direct action to shut Elbit down and disrupt the murderous Israeli war machine ourselves.

Elbit Systems markets its drones as “battle-tested” on Palestinians, and uses them to commit genocide in Palestine and to slaughter people across the region. For the people murdered by Elbit’s weaponry and for those whose lives are threatened everyday by Israeli military drones, today, we have shut Elbit down.

Featured image supplied