Five Scottish Enterprise offices targeted by pro-Palestine activists

Pro-Palestine activists have targeted five Scottish Enterprise offices across Scotland and England over alleged weapons manufacturing grants.

Palestine Action Scotland and Palestine Action targeted offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Glenrothes, and London on April 7.

A former Scottish Enterprise office was also targeted in Dundee.

The demonstrators threw red paint over the buildings and left graffiti reading “Free Gaza” and “defund Zionism”.

The groups have warned that they will continue to target Scottish Enterprise until they “stop giving grants to the weapons manufacturers”.

Police Scotland said enquiries into the incidents at each of the Scottish offices are ongoing.

A spokesperson for the group claimed that the Scottish Government’s enterprise agency has used tax money to fund arms companies.

Palestine Action Scotland and Palestine Action targeted offices in Glasgow on April 7. Siobhan Chalmers

They said in a statement: “Despite the Scottish Government’s ‘talk’ about an arms embargo, they have been using our tax money to fund arms companies profiting from the wholesale bombing of Palestine.

“Since the Scottish Government’s actions boost this genocidal industry, we have decided that all Scottish Enterprise offices will be targeted until they stop giving grants to the weapons manufacturers, Thales and Leonardo.

“We will take back via property damage every penny Scottish Enterprise uses to fund Palestinian genocide, making them think twice about writing another stimulus cheque to these companies.

“We will make sure this is not a friendly place for genocidal business growth. Free Palestine.”

Police confirmed that enquiries are ongoing into incidents at Greenmarket in Dundee, Waterloo Street in Glasgow, Haymarket Terrace in Edinburgh, and Pentland Park in Glenrothes.

A spokesperson from Scottish Enterprise said, “Our immediate priority is to make our offices safe and secure for our colleagues and customers.

“We’ve reported these serious incidents to Police Scotland and, as previously stated, none of the projects we support involve the manufacture of munitions or weaponry.”