Three women have been charged under the UK’s counter-terrorism laws following an incident at a defense facility in Edinburgh last week. According to police, on July 15 the women drove a van into the perimeter fence of a site operated by Leonardo, an Italian defense firm with long-standing contracts supplying military technology to Israel.

• Leonardo
• Italy
• Israel

The vehicle, a light blue panel van, collided with the barbed wire-lined boundary of the facility shortly after midday. Police and security were quickly on the scene, detaining the three occupants under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. No injuries were reported among staff or passersby, though witnesses described the crash as “deliberate” and “loud enough to be heard streets away.” A photo taken shortly after the incident showed the van lodged in the fence, with damage to the front end and fencing visibly torn.

• Terrorism Act 2000

Following several days of investigation, Police Scotland confirmed on Sunday that the women, aged 31, 34, and 42, had been formally charged under terrorism legislation. They remain in custody and are due to appear in court this week. A police spokesperson stated that the charges follow “a thorough inquiry into an incident which potentially endangered public safety and targeted critical infrastructure.”

• Police Scotland

Leonardo, whose Edinburgh facility specializes in the production of radar and laser guidance systems, has been the subject of heightened scrutiny in activist circles due to its defense ties with Israel Defense Forces. The company, which is majority-owned by the Italian government, has delivered military-grade surveillance and targeting technologies to the Israel Defense Forces in recent years. While Leonardo has not commented publicly on the motivations behind the incident, it acknowledged the breach and confirmed there were no injuries or operational disruptions.

• Leonardo
• Israel Defense Forces
• Italian government

The crash comes amid a broader landscape of protests and actions targeting defense contractors in the UK alleged to be supplying arms or equipment used in overseas conflicts. Earlier this month, the British government designated the group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, citing its involvement in disruptive campaigns against firms engaged in defense exports. Authorities have not officially linked the three women to any group, though investigations are ongoing into potential affiliations.

• British government
• Palestine Action

Legal experts note that the use of the Terrorism Act in this case suggests that prosecutors view the alleged act not simply as vandalism or trespass, but as one intended to intimidate or influence government policy—criteria which fall under counter-terrorism definitions. The outcome of the case may set new precedents for how direct action against defense firms is treated under UK law.

• Terrorism Act
• UK law

Prosecutors are expected to outline their case at the initial hearing this week, with further proceedings likely to examine whether the incident was organized independently or as part of coordinated protest efforts. Authorities have said they will continue to monitor security threats against defense-related sites across the country.