Hundreds of protesters have gathered to oppose a major international arms fair being hosted in London.
Campaigners arrived outside an exhibition centre in London's Docklands as preparations were being made for the biennial Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi) which starts on Tuesday.
The protest is being spearheaded by the Occupy movement, nearly two years after its four-month mass camp outside St Paul's Cathedral to protest about social and economic inequality.
They set up tents outside ExCeL London and hope to remain there for the duration of the fair, which ends on Friday.
They blocked one of the entrances to the building and at one stage stopped a military boat being delivered.
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A Metropolitan Police spokesman said 18 people were arrested for obstruction of the highway. They were taken to central London police stations.
The demonstrators held placards claiming "Drones kill babies" and "Spend millions helping people not killing people".
Syrian protesters are expected to join the group, who complained that the Russian main supplier of arms to President Bashar al-Assad's regime was allowed to take part in the government-supported event.
The Russian State Technologies Corporation (Rostec) is one of 1500 international exhibitors from more than 50 countries - some of whose human rights records are criticised by the UK's Foreign Office.
The manufacturers of tear gas blamed for deaths and injuries to protesters in Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Brazil and other countries will attend, campaigners said.
