Four pro-Palestine activists have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after a judge ruled that their attack on an Israeli arms factory in the UK had a 'terrorist connection'. Charlotte Head, 30, and Leona Kamio, 30, were each jailed for five years, Fatema Rajwani, 21, received four years and eight months, and Samuel Corner, 23, was sentenced to seven years and eight months for their roles in the 2024 break-in at Elbit Systems UK in Gloucestershire.
The group caused £1.2 million in damage, including to 41 military assets such as drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. Mr Justice Johnson described the raid as a 'carefully planned and highly sophisticated attack' and ruled that the offences were 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 without intent for striking police sergeant Kate Evans with a sledgehammer. Evans, in her victim impact statement, said the incident had a 'profound and long-lasting' impact on her physical and mental health. Corner claimed he panicked after being pepper-sprayed and acted to protect a co-defendant.
The 'terrorist connection' finding means the four must serve at least two-thirds of their sentences and will be subject to 15 years of terrorist notification requirements. Defence lawyers argued that the ruling was unprecedented for a non-violent offence and could set a dangerous precedent, comparing the activists to suffragettes and Greenham Common protesters.
Approximately 500 protesters gathered outside Woolwich Crown Court, with some holding placards reading 'Saving lives is not terrorism. I support Palestine Action'. More than 100 people were arrested for allegedly supporting the group, which remains proscribed.
