Pictures inside show damage to Permoid by Palestine Action

The Permoid factory, on Horndale Avenue in Newton Aycliffe, was the target of a protest from Palestine Action on Monday (June 16).

Protestors from the group scaled the roof at around 3.30am.

The group claimed responsibility for the protest, and unfurled Palestinian flags and banners, chanting "Free, free Palestine" as they occupied the site.

Photos from inside the factory, which Palestine Action claims make a wide range of weapons and ammunition containers and are providing these items to Israel, show red paint on machines and graffiti scrawled on the walls.

Palestine Action allege Permoid Industries manufactures containers for weapons and ammunition that are used by the Israeli military; however, The Northern Echo has not been able to verify this allegation

According to Permoid's website, it produces "a wide range of ammunition containers to suit a large variation of ammunition, which includes belted ammunition, cartridge, mortar and shell munitions". The company has not issued a statement at the time of writing.

'Free Gaza' and 'Pal Action' can be seen in some pictures from inside the factory.

Free Gaza graffiti scrawled inside the Permoid factory in Newton Aycliffe (Image: UGC) Palestine Action have claimed responsibility (Image: UGC) A large emergency response and police cordon is currently in place around the factory, with Durham Police telling members of the public to avoid the area.

Earlier today, Durham Police said: "Police are attending a factory unit on Horndale Avenue at Newton Aycliffe, where a small number of protesters have gained access to the roof.

"A police cordon is in place around the building, and officers are continuing to communicate with the protesters".

A number of police drones have also been deployed throughout the day to monitor the rooftop protest, and officers extended a cordon around the industrial estate, blocking public and business access.

Alan Strickland MP said: "Criminal damage and violent protest are totally unacceptable.

"I’m in regular communication with Permoid and the police and am continuing to monitor the situation closely.

I’m grateful to Durham Constabulary for their professionalism in very challenging circumstances."

Staff members who work at the factory were reportedly told to leave the site and not return until tomorrow.

The inside of the factory has been doused in red paint (Image: UGC)

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The current protest is reportedly the second time in 48 hours the group have gained access to the Permoid factory site.

They claimed to have breached the factory gates on Saturday (June 14) - causing damage to machinery and removing what it has called "confidential documents".

As of Monday afternoon, protestors remained on the roof.