Watch: Protesters removed from Staffordshire factory after two-day protest
Eight activists were arrested after specialist police officers scaled a factory in Staffordshire and brought a two-day rooftop protest to an end.
Anti-war protesters have been atop UAV Engines Limited in Lynn Lane, Shenstone, since Tuesday.
Last night, negotiators and specialist police officers climbed to the roof using ladders and a hydraulic platform and spoke to members of London Palestine Action. The men and women were then talked down and arrested on the ground before being driven off in a police van.
Chief Inspector Jane Hewett from Staffordshire Police said: "We decided to safely remove the protesters from the roof.
"Throughout this operation, our role has been to ensure the safety of all those involved, that includes the protesters, our staff and the wider community.
"Since the protest began, highly-trained police negotiators have been in regular conversation with the protesters and have explained on numerous occasions that their actions in this protest will result in their arrest for aggravated trespass.
"We developed a detailed plan to arrest the protesters in order to resolve the incident and allow the local community return to a state of normality.
"Tonight has seen a team of highly-trained officers carry out this plan in order to achieve a safe conclusion.
"Investigative work will begin to establish how the protesters came to be on the roof. We will now deal with any offences committed as required."
London Palestine Action took over UAV claiming it supplied weapons to Israel. They scaled the roof, chained the doors, let off flares and hung huge banners over the factory, which remained closed throughout the demonstration.
One of the protesters was human rights worker and teacher Adie Mormech.
He told the Express & Star last night: "Police have been trying to negotiate with us but we chained ourselves to different parts of the building. Whatever fate awaits us is nothing compared to what is happening to innocent people in Gaza.
"The weapons built in this factory are being used to kill innocent people and we will not stand for it.
"This is not the end and we will not back down. People need to realise what is being built here in this factory because it is killing people."
UAV produces engines for various size tactical UAVs, target drones and single mission platforms. It is owned by Israel's largest weapons company, Elbit Systems.
The protest group is demanding the closure of the factory, as well as an "end to all forms of military trade and cooperation with Israel."
The Israeli-owned British company has been drawn into the political controversy over arms sales to Israel in recent years.
The firm is one of the world's leading manufacturers of engines for drones - unmanned aerial vehicles that are used by the military across the world.
The company, known as UEL, is owned by the Israel drone specialists Silver Arrow, a subsidiary of the Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems.
