A judge has imposed lengthy prison sentences on four Palestine Action activists for damaging drones and other equipment at an Israeli arms manufacturer's UK factory, ruling that there was a 'terrorist connection' to their offending. Charlotte Head, 30, and Leona Kamio, 30, were each jailed for five years, Fatema Rajwani, 21, for four years and eight months, and Samuel Corner, 23, for seven years and eight months. All will serve at least two-thirds of their sentences and face 15 years of terrorist notification requirements.
The attack on Elbit Systems UK's site in Gloucestershire caused £1.2m of damage, including to 41 military assets. Mr Justice Johnson described it as a 'carefully planned and highly sophisticated attack' and said the damage was 'designed to intimidate the UK government and a section of the public' for political or ideological purposes. Corner was also convicted of grievous bodily harm for striking a police officer with a sledgehammer.
Defence lawyers argued that the terrorist connection finding was unprecedented for a non-violent offence and could set a dangerous precedent. Rajiv Menon KC, representing Head, called it 'an invitation to chilling, creeping authoritarianism'. Tom Wainwright KC, for Corner, said it would mean the suffragettes and Greenham Common protesters were terrorists. The activists had not been charged with terrorism offences initially.
Outside Woolwich crown court, about 500 protesters gathered, with some holding placards reading 'Saving lives is not terrorism'. More than 100 people were arrested for allegedly supporting Palestine Action, which remains proscribed. The judge noted that Corner showed no remorse and used 'extreme and gratuitous force' against a vulnerable police officer.
