Glasgow comic Susan Riddell has been forced to cancel her Fringe run due to terrorism charges, after a Ford transit van was driven into the perimeter fence of the controversial Leonardo facility in Edinburgh. 

The Italian firm’s offices, located in Crewe Road North, were targeted by pro-Palestine supporters last week who were protesting its supplies to Israel. Riddell is accused alongside two other women of committing malicious mischief and dangerous driving, both aggravated by having a terrorist connection. The two other women are Allegra Fitzherbert and Naomi Stubbs-Gorman. Both face the same malicious mischief charge. All three women appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court but did not enter plea charges. All have now been released on bail. 

Riddell has long been a mainstay of Scotland’s comedy scene, organising the Material, Girl all-female comedy show with fellow stand-up Amanda Dwyer and appearing in the BBC staples Scot Squad and Breaking The News. She's been in our Hot 100, been nominated for the Billy Connolly Spirit Of Glasgow Award, and has been a regular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with her latest show How Do You Sleep At Night? planned for a run at Monkey Barrel Comedy this August. However, Riddell’s new bail conditions have put paid to that, with courts barring her from Edinburgh and handing her a curfew of 7pm. 

The bail conditions also mean that Riddell’s work-in-progress show at The Stand in Glasgow, which was set to take place on Sunday 27 July, will not go ahead. Billed as a way to sample the shows of Dwyer and Riddell before they head to the Fringe, an unspecified act will now perform in Riddell’s stead (however, the latest edition of Material, Girl will still take place earlier in the day as planned). 

Sources from The Stand have confirmed to us that a gig night in support of Riddell will take place at the Glasgow venue on Sunday 21 September, with ‘big acts’ set to celebrate the comedian. 

A wellspring of support has formed around Riddell from the Scottish comedy scene, with names like Josie Long, Fern Brady, Liam Withnail, Zara Gladman and others voicing their dismay at the charges. Riddell herself took to social media after her release. Here is her statement in full: 

‘Hi everyone, 

‘Firstly, I have been blown away by the love and support. Thanks to everyone who protested for me and everyone who has sent a kind message. I am fine. I have an amazing family who are looking after me. 

‘Thanks to everyone who has shared my Edinburgh Fringe show but unfortunately due to bail conditions I’m barred from the Edinburgh for the foreseeable so I won’t be doing my show. If you contact the venue you can get a refund. Maybe go an see the brilliant Amanda Dwyer instead? So many legends on the Scottish comedy scene. See as many of them as you can. 

‘Lastly and most importantly, my friend Ibrahim has set up a charity for water tanks in Gaza. My friend Hisham is starving to death as we speak. Follow them. Check out my stories for donation links. Anything helps. Make a small donation to each of these people or a large one if you’re minted. Free Palestine.’ 

A spokesperson for Leonardo told The Scotsman: ‘Leonardo UK is subject to UK government export controls and does not supply equipment direct to Israel.

‘The right to peaceful protest is an important principle in our society, however, aggressive and violent activity should have no place in protest. The intimidation of our people, who work hard to support the security and defence of the UK, is not acceptable.’

Main picture: Mark Liddell