Amnesty to deliver five giant 'missiles' to Downing Street to protest UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia
Five dummy 'missiles' will be delivered to Downing Street to protest arms sales to Saudi Arabia which 'could be used to commit war crimes'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Amnesty International is going to deliver “giant missiles” to Downing Street to protest UK arm sales to Saudi Arabia.
Campaigners in white boiler suits, masks and gloves will deliver five dummy missiles bearing the message ‘Made in Britain, destroying lives in Yemen’ to Downing Street today at 10:20am.
The ‘missiles’ will be carried across Westminster bridge at 10am and taken around Parliament Square before being delivered to Downing Street.
The missiles are 1.8-metre-long ‘exact replicas’ of the weapons Amnesty allege were sold to Saudi Arabia by the UK.
Amnesty claims the UK sold 2,400 missiles and 58 war planes to Saudi Arabia in the past year “despite the clear risk that they could be used to commit war crimes in Yemen”.
Air strikes in Yemen from Saudi planes began almost a year ago on 26 March 2015, targeting Houthi rebels who had stormed the capital and forced the prime minister and president to step down, taking over with their own parliamentary council.
Amnesty has protested at the “crisis” in Yemen that has arisen from the “relentless bombardment” from air strikes.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that the civilian death toll currently stands at 3,000, and Amnesty claim that “horrific human rights abuses, as well as war crimes, are being committed throughout the country”.
Amnesty also claims to have recorded at least 30 “unlawful” airstrikes on Yemen, including strikes which deliberately targeted civilians.
Amnesty UK director Kate Allen said: “It’s absolutely shocking that the UK is still selling billions of pounds’ worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia even as the civilian casualties have mounted and mounted in Yemen.
“Ministers need to stop burying their heads in the sand and immediately suspend arms sales for the Saudi war machine.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments