Four activists linked to Palestine Action were found guilty on May 5 of criminal damage charges over a 2024 raid on an Elbit Systems facility in Filton, near Bristol, United Kingdom. The group used a decommissioned prison van to break into the Israeli-owned arms factory on August 6, 2024, before damaging equipment with sledgehammers and crowbars. Prosecutors said roughly £1 million ($1.36 million) in damage was caused during the incident.
The four convicted activists were named as Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani. Two other defendants, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin, were acquitted. Corner was also convicted of grievous bodily harm without intent after a police officer suffered a fractured spine during the confrontation.
The case was heard at Woolwich Crown Court in London. Sentencing is scheduled for June 12. The trial drew wider attention after defence lawyers argued the activists were attempting to disrupt arms supplies linked to Israel’s war in Gaza.
