Four pro-Palestine activists have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after a judge ruled their attack on an Israeli arms factory in Gloucestershire had a 'terrorist connection'. The group, members of Palestine Action, caused £1.2m of damage during a break-in at the Elbit Systems UK site in 2024, including destroying 41 military assets such as drones.
Charlotte Head, 30, and Leona Kamio, 30, were each jailed for five years, while Fatema Rajwani, 21, received four years and eight months for criminal damage. Samuel Corner, 23, who struck police sergeant Kate Evans with a sledgehammer, was sentenced to seven years and eight months for criminal damage and grievous bodily harm. All four will serve at least two-thirds of their sentences and face 15 years of terrorist notification requirements.
Mr Justice Johnson described the raid as a 'carefully planned and highly sophisticated attack' designed to intimidate the UK government and Elbit employees. He said Corner used 'extreme and gratuitous force' against a vulnerable officer and showed no remorse. The judge's finding of a terrorist connection under section 69 of the Sentencing Act was criticised by defence lawyers as 'chilling, creeping authoritarianism'.
Prosecutors said the damage included £395,056 to six units of an unnamed drone system. Reading her witness statement, Sgt Evans said the attack had a 'profound and long-lasting' impact on her health and career. Around 500 protesters gathered outside Woolwich Crown Court, with some holding placards reading 'Saving lives is not terrorism'.
