Four Palestine Action activists have been jailed after carrying out a raid on an Israeli-linked defence company’s UK factory that caused more than £1.2 million in damage. A judge ruled the incident amounted to an “act of terrorism.”
The raid targeted an Elbit Systems facility near Bristol in August 2024. During the incident, a police officer suffered a fractured spine.
Activists receive prison sentences
Samuel Corner received the longest sentence of seven years and eight months.
Charlotte Head and Leona Kamio were each sentenced to five years in prison. Fatema Rajwani received four years and eight months.
All four will also spend an additional year on licence after release.
The group drove an old prison van into the factory before damaging drones, computers and equipment with sledgehammers and crowbars.
Police officer suffered serious injuries
During the raid, Corner struck police officer Kate Evans twice with a sledgehammer while officers attempted arrests at the scene.
The attack left Evans with a fractured spine and ongoing medical issues.
In a victim statement, she described lasting emotional trauma, sleep problems and the impact the injuries had on her policing career.
The court heard she had to step down from her sergeant role and continues to receive treatment nearly two years later.
Judge rules raid was linked to terrorism
At Woolwich Crown Court, Mr Justice Johnson ruled the action qualified as terrorism because the activists intended to influence government policy and intimidate part of the public.
The judge said the group acted because they believed Israel was committing genocide in Gaza and had lost faith in legal methods of protest.
He also criticised the activists for livestreaming the raid, saying they attempted to “glorify criminality and vigilantism.”
Lawyers for the defendants argued the terrorism ruling was excessive and politically dangerous.
Corner’s legal team said he acted from “conscientious motivations” linked to the war in Gaza and expressed regret over the officer’s injuries.
However, prosecutors argued the scale of the damage and Palestine Action’s political goals justified the terrorism classification.
Protesters arrested outside court
Around 500 supporters gathered outside the court following the sentencing.
Police arrested more than 100 protesters for displaying signs supporting Palestine Action.
The case remains politically sensitive after a High Court ruling recently found the UK government’s attempt to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation unlawful. Appeal judges are expected to review that decision soon.
