Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside Woolwich Crown Court in London ahead of the sentencing of four Palestine Action activists. The activists are to be sentenced on Friday for destroying equipment at an Israel-based defence firm’s UK factory in a raid that left a police officer with a fractured spine.
Charlotte Head, 23, Samuel Corner, 30, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21, were in an old prison van that crashed into the Elbit Systems site near Bristol in the early hours of August 6, 2024. The activists, all wearing red boilersuits, caused an estimated £1 million in damage after destroying computers, drones, and other equipment with sledgehammers and crowbars.
Corner, a former student at Oxford, struck Sergeant Kate Evans on the back twice with a sledgehammer during efforts by police and Elbit security to stop the destruction. The four defendants spent about 18 months in custody after the raid. They were freed on bail in February but returned to prison after being found guilty of criminal damage by a jury in early May.
On Friday, Mr Justice Johnson will pass sentence on the activists and also sentence Corner for causing grievous bodily harm over the attack on Sgt Evans. The Elbit raid was one of the triggers for the UK Government to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, a decision the High Court has now ruled unlawful. Court of Appeal judges are to decide on Monday whether to uphold the High Court ruling.
Mr Justice Johnson ruled last year in pre-trial hearings that the Elbit raid had a “terrorist connection,” and he must decide on Friday whether to pass tougher sentences on the activists as a consequence of that ruling. Around 500 protesters gathered outside the court on Friday morning. There is also a significant police presence, with 12 police vans having arrived to manage the demonstration.
The protesters lined the driveway into the court car park, with police lined in front of them. They could be heard banging drums and chanting through megaphones, waving Palestine flags. As well as chanting “Free Palestine,” the protesters displayed signs stating “Direct Action Saves Lives” and “Direct Action is not Terrorism.” They also held “Filton 25” banners in support of those arrested following the raid at the Elbit Systems facility in Filton. Another protest was held at Waterloo station during yesterday evening’s rush hour.
