Police arrested 25 protesters who chained themselves together outside an arms fair in east London today.
The exhibition at the ExCel centre shows off military and security equipment from around the world and is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors next week.
But campaigners insist those visitors will include representatives of repressive regimes and have attempted to disrupt the delivery of equipment to the event.
Police arrested 25 people as protesters attempted to stop equipment arriving at an arms fair in London today
The exhibition is due to take place next week, showing off military hardware to visitors from around the world
Demonstrators insist visitors will include repressive governments and are trying to disrupt the event
A group called ‘Stop the Arms Fair’ tweeted this morning: ‘Blockades have taken place at both gates of ExCel centre, trying to disrupt the arms fair set up.’
A Met Police spokesman confirmed that 25 people were arrested outside the exhibition today for offences including obstruction of the highway.
It comes after eight people were detained on Monday and 17 others yesterday.
On Monday, a group called Quakers in Britain, said eight of their members were those arrested.
The group’s Sam Walton said: ‘Every two years, protesters witness representatives from governments involved with internal repression, torture and human rights abuses attending DSEi in order to ensure supplies for those deeply unacceptable practices.
‘Britain surely cannot promote peace and democracy, and London cannot be a city of peace, if it is where repression and torture begin and if it is where the seeds of war are sown.’
Protesters chained themselves together at two entrances to the centre this morning
Pictures show members of the group being escorted into police vans this morning
Police had to cut protesters from each other before arresting those who were detained
The event will be attended by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and the heads of the British armed forces.
Ahead of the opening of the exhibition, Stephen Phipson, from the Department of International Trade, said: ‘DSEI is one of the best global defence and security networking events and an important opportunity for UK companies to identify joint venture partnerships and industry collaboration.
‘It is also an excellent opportunity for UK companies to profile innovative equipment in both sectors to delegations from across the world’.