Police officer injured and 14 arrested after pro-Palestinian demonstration

Wednesday’s action came after a demonstration outside Thales in May saw four people arrested and six police officers injured.

A police officer was injured and member of the public was taken to hospital in an incident which saw 14 people charged after Pro-Palestinian protesters blockaded a defence and security company, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Police were initially called to a report of a gathering at Thales factory in Glasgow with protesters blocking entrances to the building around 5am on Wednesday.

Around 80 people attended the protest which was described by police as “largely peaceful”.

Two men were arrested in connection with disorder offences and another man was also arrested in connection with an outstanding warrant.

One officer was injured at the protest but did not require treatment before the group dispersed around 11.05am.

Around half an hour later, officers then attended Govan Road, near the subway station, as part of enquiries into the earlier incident of police assault.

A disturbance broke out and a further 11 people were arrested and a member of the public was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Local area commander, Chief Inspector Derrick Johnston, said: “Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and our role is to ensure public safety while balancing the rights of protesters.

“The initial gathering passed largely without incident but the disorder that followed was dangerous and unacceptable.

“There are obvious safety concerns when managing demonstrations and a proportionate policing response brought both incidents to a swift conclusion.

“I would like to thank the wider public for their cooperation.”

Wednesday’s action came after a demonstration outside Thales in May saw four people arrested and six police officers injured.

Thales said it has a small medium enterprise joint venture (SME JV) with Israeli company Elbit that supplies systems to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and does not supply the Israeli military or Israeli defence ministry.

A Thales spokesman said: “Thales adheres to the UK Government’s industry control system for overseas sales, one of the most rigorous and transparent of its kind in the world.

“In the UK, we have an SME JV with Israeli company Elbit, called U-TacS. This is a UK-registered company that supplies systems to the UK MoD. It does not supply the Israeli military or Israeli MoD.

“As we have said previously, while those outside our site in Glasgow have the right to protest peacefully, we will work with authorities to prosecute anyone who threatens our employees, our property or our important work for the UK armed forces.”

The UK Government has been approached for comment.

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