Israeli West Bank settlement company Ahava's Covent Garden store was blockaded from 11.30 until after 3pm today by pro-Palestine activists who had locked their arms inside a concrete block. Police chipped through the lock on and arrested both activists for aggravated trespass. Read more ...

See also report and pics in IMC-UK, and reports of previous protests and blockades of Ahava's store in Covent Garden.

The blockade began at 11.30pm when the activists and supporters entered the store and managed to establish the blockade despite resistance from the shop assistant, who attempted to push the activists out of the shop. Once the lock on was in place the mood became calmer and after 15 minutes the police arrived and removed all supporters from the shop. Supporters then documented the action, engaged with members of the public and held a banner on display by the shop.

At around 2pm the police began to dismantle the lock on with a hammer themselves instead of calling on support from the cutting team, by 2.30pm they had smashed through the lock on and arrested the activists for aggravated trespass. The store remained closed until after 3pm when all supporters left the scene.

Today's action was part of a wider campaign against the company, both in London and internationally. The prosecution against activists involved in two earlier similar actions collapsed in August when the shops manager failied to turn up for the court case.

A regular picket of the shop takes place every other Saturday, the next will take place again next Saturday (9th October) between 12 and 2 pm.