Word had reached the University’s anti-war group that a BAE Systems representative was coming to one of the Engineering departments to address interested staff members on industry-academia links and the BAE Systems Virtual University (see  http://www.baesystems.com/virtualuniversity/). Protesters decided to stage a short disruption shortly after the lecture began, based around dropping leaflets and registering disagreement.

Donning laboratory coats and gas masks to mimic weapons inspectors, four protesters entered the seminar room and distributed information leaflets (as no students were in attendance, the ethical careers leaflets were not required). Neither the delegates nor the speaker showed much surprise and no attempt at hindrance was made.

As the protesters left the room, a department secretary followed them out and immediately harangued them in the corridor, demanding to know by what right they had entered the room and reminding them that it was a closed meeting. The protesters made several noncommittal statements about freedom of expression and public access, and refused to produce any identification when asked. The secretary then went to call University security and the protesters left via a rear exit.