Anti-war protest at software development centre

Anti-war demonstrators in Derry stormed a software development centre today in protest at Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon.

Nine people forced their way into the Raytheon Systems plant in the city’s Springtown industrial estate as soon as the doors opened.

Another 20 stood outside holding placards demanding an immediate end to the violence.

As police arrived at the scene, one of those involved in the occupation pledged to stay inside as long as possible.

Veteran civil rights campaigner Eamonn McCann claimed that although the factory does not manufacture any weapons, its technology was being used to aid killings in the Middle East.

He said: “It’s a major supplier of high-tech equipment to Israel and other western forces. We see it as a direct relevance to what is happening in the Middle East and we wanted to dramatise our opposition to it.”

Mr McCann said those who pushed their way in as workers began their shifts just after 8am were part of the Derry Anti-War Coalition.

“We will stay here as long as we can,” he insisted. “This is a high-tech business making technology which is capable of a number of appliances, some of which we see on our television screens daily with the attacks on Lebanon.”