Arrests follow roof-top protest

Two people have been arrested after anti-war campaigners staged a demonstration on the roof of a Sussex armaments manufacturer.

A man and woman scaled the roof of an EDO MBM Defence Systems building in Mill Road, Fishersgate, near Brighton at 0900 BST on Tuesday.

The protest group Smash EDO claims the firm produces components used in conflicts around the world.

Sussex Police arrested two people on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

A spokesman for the police said 15 other protesters had been on the site and the demonstration finished at about 1330 BST.

'Diverse action'

The roof-top protest is part of a week of activities by Smash EDO against the armaments manufacturer.

Andrew Beckett, from Smash EDO, said: "The campaign is geared around protesting and taking diverse forms of action against the company. "This unit [Fishersgate] hasn't been focused on so much in the past so we're switching to this factory as well.

"It's to draw attention to the fact that this factory is involved in manufacturing arms."

EDO MBM Defence Systems was unavailable for comment.