Three women are due to appear in court today in Edinburgh after being charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with an incident at a defense facility owned by Leonardo, an Italian-based aerospace and electronics company. The charges follow an event on July 15, when a van was driven into the perimeter fence of the company’s factory on Crewe Road North, which produces radar and laser technologies used in military applications.

Police Scotland confirmed the arrest of the three women—aged 31, 34 and 42—on the day of the incident. Formal charges were brought against them on Sunday, July 20. The case is being handled by the counter-terrorism unit, and the women are scheduled to appear before the Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

According to a spokesperson for Police Scotland, investigators are now seeking information related to two vehicles connected to the case: a blue Ford Transit van reportedly seen in the Gorgie Road area before the incident, and a white Honda CR-Z, which was recovered from a nearby car park shortly afterward. Authorities have appealed to the public for assistance in tracing the movements of these vehicles in the hours surrounding the event.

Responsibility for the action was claimed by the group “Shut Down Leonardo”, which has described itself as an anti-militarist initiative opposing the company’s involvement in supplying parts used in Israel’s F-35 fighter jets. The group stated that the protest aimed to disrupt what it characterizes as “war profiteering.” In a statement attributed to the group, members argued their target was “a facility that plays a part in ongoing violence overseas.”

Leonardo, in response, said it does not sell equipment directly to Israel, clarifying that its primary customer is the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence. In a statement, the company emphasized its longstanding role as a key national supplier of defense technologies and said it operates “in full compliance with UK law and export regulations.”

The incident falls against a backdrop of heightened political and public attention to the UK’s role in global defense exports, particularly amid ongoing conflict in Gaza. Leonardo has previously been the focus of demonstrations by protest groups critical of military links to overseas engagements. Earlier this year, the UK government added the group Palestine Action to its list of banned organizations under terrorism legislation, citing similar direct action tactics used against defense-related targets.

As the legal proceedings begin, authorities continue their inquiries, urging anyone with information related to the incident or the vehicles involved to come forward.