Two Pro-Palestinian activists have been arrested after vandalising a building at the University of Glasgow in a protest over trade with Israel.
The students, part of a group called Youth Demand, used fire extinguishers to spray the James McCune Smith Learning Hub in red paint.
The pair, who named themselves in a statement as Hannah Taylor, 24, and Catriona Roberts, 22, then glued themselves onto the front of the building.
They said that the University of Glasgow had refused to give in to previous demands to prohibit its endowment fund managers from investing in companies that earn more than 10 per cent of their income from arms manufacturing.
The group claim that the University of Glasgow has £6.8 million worth of shareholdings in arms companies such as BAE systems and QinetiQ, and have also received around £600,000 in research funding from BAE systems and Rolls Royce since 2017.
QinetiQ, a supplier of military robotics, has been criticised for their active export of arms to Israel and involvement in the British Army Watchkeeper Programme which allegedly tested the drones on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
A survey of 2400 staff and students at the university found that 81% of staff and 84% of students were in favour of divestment.
Ms Taylor, a maths masters student and hospitality employee from Glasgow, who said: "I was forced into action today because Glasgow University has blatantly ignored the will of the majority of its students and staff, and insisted on continuing to invest in Israeli linked arms research.
“I'm enraged that I've been forced into complicity with the killing and maiming of Palestinian children, both by my university and by my government. As students we demand an immediate trade embargo including all arms.”
Catriona Roberts, who is also a student from Glasgow, who said: "The Palestinian people are still under siege. No ceasefire will wash away the blame from our genocidal government.
“We demand our government stops arming the Israeli state and imposes a full trade embargo. Our institutions follow the lead of our government, who continue to trade and send arms to Israel, a state guilty of genocide. We refuse to be made complicit in the mutilation of children."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 10am on Thursday, 6 February, 2025, we were called to a report of vandalism at a premises in the Gilmorehill area of Glasgow.
"Officers attended and two women, aged 22 and 24, were arrested in connection. Enquiries are ongoing."
A University spokesperson said: "This incident is now an on going police matter and as a result we cannot comment on it specifically.
The students, part of a group called Youth Demand, used fire extinguishers to spray the James McCune Smith Learning Hub in red paint.
The pair, who named themselves in a statement as Hannah Taylor, 24, and Catriona Roberts, 22, then glued themselves onto the front of the building.
They said that the University of Glasgow had refused to give in to previous demands to prohibit its endowment fund managers from investing in companies that earn more than 10 per cent of their income from arms manufacturing.
The group claim that the University of Glasgow has £6.8 million worth of shareholdings in arms companies such as BAE systems and QinetiQ, and have also received around £600,000 in research funding from BAE systems and Rolls Royce since 2017.
QinetiQ, a supplier of military robotics, has been criticised for their active export of arms to Israel and involvement in the British Army Watchkeeper Programme which allegedly tested the drones on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
A survey of 2400 staff and students at the university found that 81% of staff and 84% of students were in favour of divestment.
Ms Taylor, a maths masters student and hospitality employee from Glasgow, who said: "I was forced into action today because Glasgow University has blatantly ignored the will of the majority of its students and staff, and insisted on continuing to invest in Israeli linked arms research.
“I'm enraged that I've been forced into complicity with the killing and maiming of Palestinian children, both by my university and by my government. As students we demand an immediate trade embargo including all arms.”
Catriona Roberts, who is also a student from Glasgow, who said: "The Palestinian people are still under siege. No ceasefire will wash away the blame from our genocidal government.
“We demand our government stops arming the Israeli state and imposes a full trade embargo. Our institutions follow the lead of our government, who continue to trade and send arms to Israel, a state guilty of genocide. We refuse to be made complicit in the mutilation of children."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 10am on Thursday, 6 February, 2025, we were called to a report of vandalism at a premises in the Gilmorehill area of Glasgow.
"Officers attended and two women, aged 22 and 24, were arrested in connection. Enquiries are ongoing."
A University spokesperson said: "This incident is now an on going police matter and as a result we cannot comment on it specifically.
Category
🗞
News