This is the moment pro-Palestinian protesters used hammers to smash into a weapons factory to damage equipment.

Demonstrators for Palestine Action cut through three security fences and broke through windows with crowbars at the Instro Precision factory at Sandwich Discovery Park in Kent.

Shocking footage shows the activists climbing through the broken windows and then dismantling machinery and parts once inside the factory at around 3am this morning.

One protester is seen damaging computers and parts on a production line with a crowbar.

Kent Police said it was called to reports of a protest at 3.30am on Monday morning. It said seven people had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and remain in custody.

Pro-Palestinian activists broke into a ‘highly secure’ weapons factory in Kent this morning

Protesters smashed their way in with crowbars and proceeded to break equipment and dismantle parts

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘Officers are currently at the scene and seven people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary. They have been taken into custody and an investigation into the incident is underway.’

Palestine Action calls itself a ‘direct action network’ and targets businesses and organisations, including Elbit Systems, with links to Israel. 

The group said it was taking direct action against ‘the manufacture of, or investment in, arms used for genocide of the Palestinians’.

Protest group Palestine Action targets companies and organisations with links to Israel

A ‘small contingent’ of members entered the factory premises in red protective suits

It said a ‘small contingent’ of its members entered the factory premises, while other activists laid down ‘stinger’ spike strips on roads leading to the facility.

‘Instro manufactures military-grade electro-optical equipment, used for target acquisition and surveillance, their products ‘likely to be used in ground operations in Gaza by the Israeli snipers terrorising Palestinian civilians’, a spokesperson said. 

‘While the company boasts of its supplies to the British Ministry of Defence, it is also a major exporter to Israel of ‘ML5′ category weapons sight and target acquisition products – being granted over 50 such export licenses in a five-year period.’

MailOnline has contacted Instro for comment.