The Manchester office of an insurance company has been targeted for the second time in a month by anti-Israel activists.
The offices of Aviva insurance, at Chapel Walks in Manchester’s central shopping district, had six windows broken and the front of their office sprayed with red paint as high as the second storey overnight on Sunday.
Direct action group Palestine Action posted photos of the damage to its Instagram account, claiming actionists targeted the offices over the claim that Aviva provide insurance to Elbit systems, Israel’s largest weapons company.
Palestine Action claim Aviva provide the mandatory public liability insurance to Elbit’s UAV Engines factory in Staffordshire.
Aviva did not comment on the Palestine Action claims, but a spokesperson said: “We have had some disruption at our Manchester office this morning. Our first priority is to ensure the safety of our people.
“We will not tolerate any criminal behaviour towards our people or property and will take appropriate legal action.
“This has not impacted our service to customers.”
Greater Manchester Police say officers are “investigating reports of criminal damage” on Chapel Walks, Manchester. Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police.
This is the second time Aviva’s Manchester offices have been targeted over their alleged involvement with Elbit. On March 11 two activists climbed into the roof of the revolving door and occupied from 7am until their arrest at noon.
After the last action at Aviva’s Manchester site, a Palestine Action spokesperson said: “Both Allianz and Aviva directly enable the production of Israeli weapons in Britain by providing Israeli weapons factories with the insurance they need to operate.
“Therefore, Palestine Action will continue to take direct action until they cease all ties with Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons producer.
“No longer will ordinary people allow companies on our doorsteps to profit from the manufacture of weapons which are ‘battle-tested’ on Palestinians.”
This action comes the same day as three other actions under the Palestine Action banner.
In Bristol and in Rotterdam two Allianz offices, a different insurance company accused of insuring weapons factories were also targetted.
Palestine Action also unloaded a truck full of rubbish outside of UAV tactical systems in Leicester in a vehicle that multiple activists have locked themselves to.
Pictures: Roma Robinson
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