From a balcony above, the three activists chanted "Thou shalt not kill." Their insistent plea, highlighted by the red-stained shirts they wore to symbolize the blood of innocent victims of war, repeatedly interrupted the opening address to more than a thousand people attending a July 23 reception before the Farnborough Air Show. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the American and Israeli ambassadors, and corporate executives from the aerospace industry were among the 1,500 guests. Hotel security forcibly removed Fr. Martin Newell and Maria and Scott Albrecht. Police held the trio of London Catholic Workers for five hours for "breach of peace" and then released them without charges.

Fr. Newell explained, "The Bishops of Africa have called on Western Christians to engage with decision makers and arms traders to stop the indiscriminate sale of weapons. We came here this evening in response to this call."

For more information, contact Scott and Maria Albrecht at mariascott2000@yahoo.co.uk.