Palestine Action activists acted very early, around 5 a.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024.

The first group broke into the Manchester company producing weapons components, Dean Group International.

Some machinery
and surrounding equipment were dismantled and damaged.

Police have cordoned off the premises and remain at the scene. Activists continue to blockade and occupy Dean Group International, Brinell Dr, Irlam, Manchester M44 5BL.

Second group in Sunbury-on-Thames attacked weapons supplier Ametek Airtechnology.

Activists jumped over the fence, broke doors, windows, equipment and splashed red bloody paint everywhere.

Both companies supply parts to Israel’s largest arms firm, Elbit Systems.

Dean Group International uses a specialised technique called “lost-wax casting”(later known as “investment casting”) to manufacture components for number of arms companies, including Elbit Kent-based subsidiary, Instro Precision.

According to the manufacturer, “so much from a military standpoint requires investment casting, including weapons, missiles, radar, and communications equipment”. 

The supply of components to Instro Precision, which has held more than 80 licenses to export weapons to Israel since 2016, was confirmed by other activists who stormed the Elbit weapons factory during a protest last month.

Ametek Airtechnology specializes in the design, development and manufacture of customized temperature and motion control solutions for weapons including missiles, military vehicles and fighter aircraft.

Among the weapons their products are used for are Israeli F-35 fighter jets, which are often used during Israel’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Ametek subsidiary United Electronic Industries calls Elbit Systems a “valued customer” – a connection between the two companies was also confirmed by observations of deliveries to UAV Engines Ltd, Elbit’s Shenstone subsidiary.

Since October 7, Israeli forces have killed more than 38,295 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Schools, hospitals, refugee camps, homes and general infrastructure are frequently bombed during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Recently, in response to the growing demand for ammunition from the Israeli military for such attacks on the Gaza Strip, Elbit has “increased production” of its weapons.

Elbit Systems’ UK-based factories produce 85% of Israel’s fleet of military drones and ground vehicles, as well as missiles, ammunition and digital warfare.

The Elbit arms company falsely claims that its owners are in Israel, but in fact it is owned by
by some Westminster Members of Parliament (MPs).

A Palestine Action spokesperson said:

“Without suppliers such as Dean Group International and Ametek, Elbit couldn’t make weaponry which is used to commit genocide. Whilst our government continues to facilitate Elbit’s crimes, Palestine Action will continue to use direct action to end the complicity and shut Elbit down. Every link in Israel’s military supply chain will be uncovered and dismantled.”