Three women charged under Terrorism Act over van crash

Three women have been charged under the Terrorism Act after a van was driven into the fence of a defence factory in Edinburgh.

The women, aged 31, 34 and 42, were arrested in connection with the incident at Leonardo UK’s facility on Crewe Road North on Tuesday.

Police Scotland said its counter terror unit was leading the investigation.

Separately, counter terror officers are investigating reports that people on a pro-Palestinian march in Edinburgh were wearing T-shirts and holding banners expressing support for a banned organisation.

Palestine Action was outlawed earlier this month under anti-terror legislation.

Thousands of people marched through Edinburgh on Saturday demanding an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, but no arrests were made on the day.

Police Scotland said extensive inquiries into the clothing and banners displayed on the march are ongoing.

They said local officers were being supported by colleagues from counter terrorism as part of the investigation.

Officers investigating the defence factory incident earlier in the week are appealing for information to trace the movements of a blue Ford Transit van in the Gorgie Road area on Monday and Tuesday.

Officers were also keen to trace the movements of a white Honda CR-Z, which was recovered from a car park in Gorgie Road following the incident, on those dates.

They asked any drivers in the area with dashcam footage to come forward and share footage with officers.