Charges dropped over protest at Israeli military drones factory in UK

Company witnesses pull out of case involving five activists accused of blocking access to UAV Engines in Staffordshire

Criminal charges have been dropped against a group of protesters over a demonstration that blocked access to a factory making engines for Israeli military drones after witnesses from the companies involved pulled out of the case.

The five protesters were charged with "use [of] violence to compel activity or abstention from lawful activity" after blocking the entrances to a Staffordshire industrial estate which is the base for UAV Engines, a subsidiary of Israeli arms company Elbit, that makes the drones that fly over the Gaza Strip.