weapons inspectors arrested at barrow

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Seven citizens' weapons inspectors arrested at VSEL Barrow

On Wednesday 18th November, seven peace activists - four of them from Sweden, two from Liverpool and one from Staffordshire - and two accompanying journalists were arrested at the VSEL shipyard in Barrow, north of England, as the activists attempted a nonviolent "Citizens' Inspection" of the Trident submarine, HMS Vengeance.

They acted in support of the "Bread not Bombs Ploughshares" group -
currently in prison awaiting trial - who were arrested in the shipyard in September while attempting to nonviolently disarm the Trident weapons system.

The aim of the "Citizens' Inspection" was to "identify and inspect the development of weapons of mass destruction by VSEL and the British
government". The group believe that "such weapons - with their huge waste of resources, and with the threat they represent to life - are a crime against humanity, especially the world's poor".

The seven believe that they have a personal responsibility to "openly, nonviolently and accountably" resist the development of such weapons and to challenge others to participate in nonviolent civil disobedience in order to abolish all such weapons.

The two journalists were released at midnight and the seven activists were held overnight. At the time of writing (9.30am, Thursday 19th November), they are still in custody, and police have not decided whether or not to charge them.

Ends

For further information:
Stephen Hancock on +44 (0)1865 770833
Liverpool Catholic Worker: +44 (0)151 264 8741
For comment: Father Arthur Fitzgerald: +44 (0)151 263 6578
Barrow Police Station: +44 (0)1229 824 532

The three "Bread Not Bombs Plowshares" - Ann-Britt Sternfeldt, Annika Spalde and Stellan Vinthagen - remain in prison awaiting trial on charges of "conspiracy to commit criminal damage". Their next court appearance is at Lancaster Crown Court on December 11th (although this is not the final trial).

Their English- and Swedish-based support groups are appealing for funds towards political and prisoner-support costs:
Cheques to "Bread Not Bombs Plowshares", c/o Liverpool Catholic Worker, 1 Horne Street, Liverpool L6 5AH, England (tel +44 (0)151 264 8741; email lcw@rapid.co.uk).

If you want to visit any of the prisoners, you must first book with the Liverpool Catholic Worker community -- they will then give you instructions about how to book with the relevant prison. Please book with the Catholic Worker well in advance (0151 264 8741).

To be included on further "Bread Not Bombs Plowshares" emailings: email stephen@gn.apc.org and put "BNB Subscribe" in the Subject heading.

The "Bread Not Bombs Plowshares" acted separately from - but in cooperation with - the Trident Ploughshares 2000 (TP2000) Campaign. For latest news about TP2000 and arrests at their recent disarmament camp: tel +44 (0)1603 611953; fax +44 (0)1603 666879; email tp2000@gn.apc.org; website http://www.gn.apc.org/tp2000/ or contact: Pol on +33 475 3590 13 (email pol@motherearth.com)