DayofPal—Six British pro-Palestinian activists have been acquitted of aggravated burglary charges related to a 2024 raid on a factory operated by Israeli defense company Elbit Systems in Bristol, southwest England.
The trial at London’s Woolwich Crown Court also involved charges of violent disorder and criminal damage, on which the jury was unable to reach verdicts.
The defendants, Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, Zoe Rogers, and Jordan Devlin, were members of the now-banned group Palestine Action, which aims to disrupt the arms industry in the UK.
Rajwani, Rogers, and Devlin were additionally cleared of violent disorder, while the jury could not decide on the same charge for the remaining three, nor on any criminal damage charges.
Samuel Corner also faced a separate charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but no verdict was reached.
The activists were accused of smashing drones and equipment at the Elbit facility using sledgehammers and other tools.
Supporters celebrated the verdicts in court, while Palestine Action described the raid as an effort to disarm weapons to prevent violence.
The case has drawn international attention, highlighting the UK government’s handling of pro-Palestinian activism under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Activists claim their efforts contributed to the government’s reported decision not to award Elbit Systems UK a £2 billion army training contract, which was instead given to Raytheon UK.
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