Pro-Palestine activists block entrances to weapons factory Instro Precision in Sandwich Discovery Park for third time

Pro-Palestine activists are blocking the entrances to a business park - with some even attaching themselves to vehicles.

Several police cars are at the scene of the protests organised by members of Palestine Action at Discovery Park in Sandwich.

Pro-Palestine protesters have attached themselves to vehicles outside Discovery Park in Sandwich. Picture: Palestine Action

The group says its aim is to restrict access to Instro Precision, a factory on the estate which produces military technology claimed to be bound for Israeli forces.

Eyewitness Wayne Hobson says one of the protests - next to the Shell petrol station in Montagu Road - started at about 6am, with activists pictured lying in the road.

He said: “We counted at one point around 12 police cars in attendance.”

Palestine Action says the factory, a subsidiary of Israeli drone manufacturer Elbit Systems, produces a range of weaponry and military equipment which is used in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

As a result of the blockade, the group says it has “once again halted production” at Instro.

Protesters are blocking the entrance to the Discovery Park at Montagu Road in Sandwich. Picture: Wayne Hobson

A Palestine Action spokesperson said: "It has been clear that there is no route through government to ending the supply of British weapons to Israel's war machine.

“Forty thousand Palestinians have been massacred in Israel's genocide, [with] yet more now starving, wounded and displaced.

“Our government is complicit in all of that - coordinated direct action to immobilise sites of Israeli weapons production is the only possible response."

This is the third time protesters have targeted the site.

Last year dozens of pro-Palestine protesters blocked the entrances to the factory, and in March members claimed to have “successfully shut down” Instro Precision.

At least six police cars are at the scene. Picture: Wayne Hobson

The conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups has taken place mostly in and near the Gaza Strip since October 7.

It started when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel which saw 1,200 killed - the country’s worst loss of life since its founding in 1948.

On October 27, the Israeli military launched a large-scale ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

A police spokesman said: “Officers are at the scene of a protest at Discovery Park, near Sandwich.”

KentOnline has approached Instro and Discovery Park for comment.