Four Palestine Action activists convicted of criminal damage after raid at UK site of Israeli-based defence firm

Four Palestine Movement activists have been found guilty of raiding the UK facility of an Israel-based defense firm and destroying equipment with sledgehammers and crowbars in a bid to shut down the factory.

Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani were in a prison van that crashed through the shutters at the Elbit Systems factory in Bristol in the early hours of August 6, 2024.

The activists, all wearing red overalls, began destroying property inside the factory before clashing with security guards and police who tried to stop the raid.

Head, 30, was said to have used the prison van used as a “battering ram” to enter the facility, Woolwich Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said the raid was “meticulously organised” and aimed to “cause as much damage as possible and obtain information about the company”.

Activists used sledgehammers and crowbars they brought with them to destroy computers, drones and other equipment, and used fire extinguishers to spray red paint on the walls and floors.

The group caused around £1 million worth of damage during the raid, the court was told.

Head, Corner, Kamio and Rajwani were each found guilty of criminal damage after the jury deliberated for more than 14 hours.

Two other activists accused of criminal damage, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin, were found not guilty.

Corner was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm by a majority of 11 to one. He was cleared of the charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

This is breaking news, more to come…