Protesters are targeting a bank they accuse of supporting the arms trade.

Smash EDO - which campaigns for the closure of the EDO factory in Moulsecoomb, Brighton - is turning its attention to Barclays bank.

The group claims the bank generates profits for EDO’s parent corporation, ITT, in US stock exchange deals.

It accuses EDO of supplying components used in illegal military action by Israel - something EDO denies.

Barclays did not comment on the specific claim when contacted by The Argus but said it carefully considers the kind of work it carries out for the defence industry to make sure.

Smash EDO is calling for Barclays customers to move their money elsewhere.

It is launching its Target Barclays campaign with a demonstration outside the bank’s North Street branch on Saturday at 11am.

A spokeswoman for the campaign said: “Arms dealers like EDO MBM/ITT do not operate alone, they need organisations like Barclays. Every stage of the arms trade is made possible by a network of complicit corporations and financial institutions.”

“The campaign aims to widen awareness of the fact that any consumer may be unwittingly funding death, destruction and the suffering of civilians.”

A spokesman for Barclays said: “Barclays Group provides financial services to the defence sector within a specific policy framework.

“We assess each proposal on a case-by-case basis and legal compliance alone does not automatically guarantee our support.

“The status of the exporter, the nature of the equipment, its likely use and the potential for it to be on-sold are all considered as part of the assessment process.

“We participate only in transactions which conform, as a minimum, to the stronger of regulations in either the country of operation or the UK.”