In a statement on June 9, 2025, a spokesperson for Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive), Sinn Féin Poblachtach said: “British imperialists have no shame! They have taken ownership of armoured vehicles from genocidal Israel. These combat trucks have been involved in the murder of innocent people since 2023.

“As Sinn Féin Poblachtach has stated in the past there always seems to be money for war and, if the war chest is empty the British Home Office has a history of pilfering funding from other government budgets destined for the sick, elderly and those living in poverty.

It was reported on June 5 that London’s Metropolitan Police have been spotted trialling new SandCat armoured vehicles across the city, a model developed and tested by the Israeli army in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The SandCat is manufactured by Israeli defence company Plasan and was first introduced in 2005. The light armoured vehicle has been widely used by the Israeli army, including in Gaza.

“Even as the British government is being taken through British courts purely to stop them selling arms to Israel, these armaments and component parts for fighter jets are slaughtering huge numbers of Palestinian civilians at a historic pace.

“British warmongers in Whitehall have made £5 million available for the embattled Metropolitan Police. Footage has been posted by BBC London showing the vehicles being driven through London as part of a training exercise. The Met confirmed it was preparing officers to operate the SandCats.

“The report estimated that up to 700 SandCats were in deployment; causing murder, maiming and destruction against the Palestinian people.

“The world stands idly by and witnesses this British government being complicit along with Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people.

PRO
Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive),
Sinn Féin Poblachtach

CRÍOCH/ENDS

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