Protesters who staged an anti-war protest at the US-owned Raytheon guided systems plant in Derry earlier this month say they have been supported by US academic Noam Chomsky and other international activists.
The Derry Anti War Coalition, including journalist and trade unionist Eamon McCann, say they have been "overwhelmed and humbled" by the backing.
Nine protesters from the group occupied Raytheon's offices in the Springtown area of the city on August 9th claiming that "weapons manufactured by Raytheon were being used by Israel to bomb Lebanon". Others protested with placards outside.
The nine appeared in court charged with unlawful assembly and aggravated burglary and were released on bail.
Coalition spokesman Dermie McClenaghan spoke yesterday of the support they received "in relation to the action we took in decommissioning the Raytheon facility at Springtown".
It makes the Patriot, Tomahawk, Cruise and Sidewinder missiles. But the company has said its Derry operation is limited to software development and not the physical manufacture of weapons.
The anti-war coalition said they had received messages of support from Mr Chomsky. Mr McClenaghan said the academic had e-mailed the group saying: "You're an inspiration to all of us. It's an honour to have even a remote association with what you are doing."
Mr McClenaghan also said anti-war campaigners in Pakistan have demanded that the charges against them be dropped and instead that "those supplying arms for the killings of Lebanese and Palestinians should be charged for crimes against humanity".