One year before the DSEi arms fair returns to London's docklands, campaigners from Stop the Arms Fair coalition promise to do everything possible to stop it happening.
Ahead of widespread opposition to next week's London arms fair, the beliefs and values think tank Ekklesia has said that Government ministers will appear inconsistent if they condemn those taking action against the fair - even if campaigners break the law in doing so.
The former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, has drawn criticism for making comments supportive of the arms industry. He suggested on BBC television that Britain should be proud of being “particularly good at manufacturing tanks”.
Two members of the Catholic Worker movement, including a priest, have been arrested at the London arms fair. They poured red paint over an entrance sign before kneeling in prayer beneath a banner asking God to forgive arms dealers.
London’s arms fair has opened this morning to a wave of protest and criticism. Protestors have demonstrated both outside the fair and at the offices of UKTI, the government unit through which the arms fair is subsidised.
Countries involved in conflict or internal suppression or having a record of human rights abuse have been invited to the London arms fair by the UK government.
Clarion Events, organisers of the forthcoming London arms fair, have bought yet another weapons exhibition, despite public criticism of their participation in the arms trade.