PROTESTERS WHO HALTED ARMS TRAIN FACE COUR
Bristol and London activists | 14.04.2004 16:17
Six protesters who stopped trains full of weapons dealers from reaching one of the world?s biggest arms fairs, will defend their actions in court from 26th April.
A release from Bristol & London activists
14th April 2004
PROTESTERS WHO HALTED ARMS TRAIN FACE COURT
Six protesters who stopped trains full of weapons dealers from reaching one of the world?s biggest arms fairs, will defend their actions in court from 26th April.
Three activists from Bristol, who stopped a Docklands Light Railway (DLR)train carrying dozens of arms dealers to the controversial Defence Systems Equipment International weapons bazaar last September, will appear at Snaresbrook
Crown Court in east London.
The three men, Mr. Hillman, Mr. Roberts & Max, are accused of stopping the DLR train at East India Docks station by climbing on top of it on 11th September.
The DLR was prevented for nearly two hours from arriving at the ExCel exhibition centre, where the DSEi arms fair was taking place.
"This was an action to prevent the trade in weapons, which results in thousand of innocent lives lost around the world," said a spokesperson for the group.
"After climbing on top of the train, we explained to staff and to the non-DSEi attending passengers why we were there, and why we wouldn?t move unless the arms fair was closed, or we were removed."
The DLR train was the main route to the arms fair for delegates. The station had to be cleared by transport staff, and the line in both directions was brought to a standstill.
Mr Roberts and Max were eventually removed from the top of the train by specially trained police, while Mr Hillman remained on the top of the station canopy until he was removed a further hour later.
The three men will defend their actions on the legal basis that they were attempting to prevent a greater crime: the unlicensed trade in illegal products and illegal trade practices known to be taking place at the fair; as well as the death or serious injury of unknown individuals as a result.
Three women from South London will also begin their trial at Snaresbrook on 26th April. Naomi, Jackie and Sarah stopped a DLR train full of arms dealers on the 10th September last year.
DSEi 2003 attracted thousands of protesters, and cost more than £4 million in policing. A number of DLR trains were halted during the week of action,roads were blocked and the exhibition was infiltrated by activists.
Campaigners are already planning action against DSEi 2005, which will take place at the same venue next year. More information at www.dsei.org
Contact:
For more information, questions or interviews write to
press@dsei.org
Court appearances from 26th April, 10am at Snaresbrook Crown, east London.
(Tube: Snaresbrook).
14th April 2004
PROTESTERS WHO HALTED ARMS TRAIN FACE COURT
Six protesters who stopped trains full of weapons dealers from reaching one of the world?s biggest arms fairs, will defend their actions in court from 26th April.
Three activists from Bristol, who stopped a Docklands Light Railway (DLR)train carrying dozens of arms dealers to the controversial Defence Systems Equipment International weapons bazaar last September, will appear at Snaresbrook
Crown Court in east London.
The three men, Mr. Hillman, Mr. Roberts & Max, are accused of stopping the DLR train at East India Docks station by climbing on top of it on 11th September.
The DLR was prevented for nearly two hours from arriving at the ExCel exhibition centre, where the DSEi arms fair was taking place.
"This was an action to prevent the trade in weapons, which results in thousand of innocent lives lost around the world," said a spokesperson for the group.
"After climbing on top of the train, we explained to staff and to the non-DSEi attending passengers why we were there, and why we wouldn?t move unless the arms fair was closed, or we were removed."
The DLR train was the main route to the arms fair for delegates. The station had to be cleared by transport staff, and the line in both directions was brought to a standstill.
Mr Roberts and Max were eventually removed from the top of the train by specially trained police, while Mr Hillman remained on the top of the station canopy until he was removed a further hour later.
The three men will defend their actions on the legal basis that they were attempting to prevent a greater crime: the unlicensed trade in illegal products and illegal trade practices known to be taking place at the fair; as well as the death or serious injury of unknown individuals as a result.
Three women from South London will also begin their trial at Snaresbrook on 26th April. Naomi, Jackie and Sarah stopped a DLR train full of arms dealers on the 10th September last year.
DSEi 2003 attracted thousands of protesters, and cost more than £4 million in policing. A number of DLR trains were halted during the week of action,roads were blocked and the exhibition was infiltrated by activists.
Campaigners are already planning action against DSEi 2005, which will take place at the same venue next year. More information at www.dsei.org
Contact:
For more information, questions or interviews write to
press@dsei.org Court appearances from 26th April, 10am at Snaresbrook Crown, east London.
(Tube: Snaresbrook).
Bristol and London activists