Trio in court after van allegedly driven into arms factory fence

Three women have appeared in court charged with malicious mischief after a van was allegedly driven into a fence at an Edinburgh arms factory.

Niaomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, Susan Riddell, 42, and Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, all appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday via videolink.

The trio made no plea on charges of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a “terrorist connection”, after a van was allegedly driven into the fence of the Leonardo factory in the Crewe Road North area of the capital on July 15.

Riddell was also charged under the Road Traffic Act 1988, aggravated by having a “terrorist connection”.

During a short private hearing the Sheriff granted Fitzherbert, of London, and Riddell, of Glasgow, bail.

Their next appearance at court is to be confirmed.

Stubbs-Gorman, of Glasgow, had her application for bail continued one day and will appear before the court on Tuesday.

Supporters of the three women held a demonstration outside the court before their appearance, many waving Palestinian flags or holding placards with pro-Palestinian slogans.

Jessie Normaschild, 67, who was at the demonstration holding a Campaign Against Arms Trade banner, said she was attending to show support for the three women, and to protest about government support for arms manufacturers.

“Leonardo is a big arms factory in Edinburgh, and it makes the F-35 (fighter jet) targeting system,” she said.

“The F-35s are being used to bomb Gaza. And we don’t want Leonardo in Edinburgh.

“We don’t want Scottish Government money, taxpayers’ money, to fund Scottish Enterprise to give the money to Leonardo and Raytheon and BAE.”

Leonardo previously said it does not supply equipment directly to Israel and that its main customer is the UK Armed Forces.

On Sunday Police Scotland said its counter-terrorism unit is leading the investigation into the incident, and that inquiries are ongoing.

The force also issued an appeal for information to trace the movements of two vehicles.

One is a blue Ford Transit van which was seen around Gorgie Road on Monday and Tuesday prior to the incident.

The other is a white Honda CR-Z which was found in a car park on Gorgie Road after the incident.

Police have asked anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference number 0416 of July 15.