Story perspectives

Six Activists Stand Trial for Elbit Factory Attack

11/19/2025

Summary

Story summary

Six British pro-Palestinian activists are on trial for planning an attack on an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol in August 2024.
Prosecutors allege they used sledgehammers, fireworks, and smoke grenades to damage property and threaten personnel.
Samuel Corner faces additional charges for striking a police officer and causing a lumbar spine fracture.
The ten-week trial requires jurors to focus on the evidence, disregarding Palestine Action's proscription and Gaza conflict opinions.

History

Historical Context

Protests against Elbit Systems in the UK began intensifying after the 2014 Gaza War, with activists from groups like Palestine Action targeting the arms manufacturer for its military ties to Israel. In 2023, Elbit's sales reached £100 million, prompting ongoing legal battles and civil disobedience, reflecting the broader conflict over arms exports and the UK's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Story summary

Six British pro-Palestinian activists are on trial for planning an attack on an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol in August 2024.
Prosecutors allege they used sledgehammers, fireworks, and smoke grenades to damage property and threaten personnel.
Samuel Corner faces additional charges for striking a police officer and causing a lumbar spine fracture.
The ten-week trial requires jurors to focus on the evidence, disregarding Palestine Action's proscription and Gaza conflict opinions.

1 / 2