- Elbit Systems in Bristol, now stands deserted aside from security following repeated Palestine Action protests.
- Elbit reported a £4.7m loss last year compared with a £3.8m profit in 2023.
An arms manufacturing site in Bristol, operated by Elbit Systems UK, appears to have shut down after years of direct action by Palestine Action.
The facility, located in the Aztec West business park, had been the target of repeated demonstrations since 2019, including roof occupations, blockades, smashed windows, and red paint thrown across the site. The most recent protest occurred on 1 July, just days before Palestine Action was banned under the Terrorism Act.
Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of Israel’s largest weapons producer, Elbit Systems, had leased the site until 2029. Elbit Systems, which reported revenues of $6.8bn (£5bn) last year, supplies drones and other military technologies described as the “backbone” of the Israel Defence Force. Its wider portfolio includes systems for aircraft, helicopters, land vehicles, naval platforms, and command-and-control operations.
When visited this week, the property was deserted except for a security guard stationed outside. Fences and barriers have been erected around the perimeter following repeated protest actions. Elbit did not respond to requests for comment, and the identity of the site’s current landlords remains unclear. The property was formerly owned by Somerset Council, which sold it last year after also being targeted by activists.
The Aztec West facility is separate from Elbit’s site in Filton, Bristol, which has also been a focus of Palestine Action’s campaign. Twenty-four activists are currently awaiting trial over protests at Filton.
According to its most recent accounts, Elbit Systems UK recorded an operating loss of £4.7m last year, compared with a £3.8m profit the year before.
