Full Breakdown
Trial of Palestine Action Activists Over Sledgehammer Attack at Elbit Systems UK Factory
4/26/2026, 2:08:16 AM
The Raid and Trial
On 6 August 2024 Palestine Action members rammed the shutters of Elbit Systems’ Filton factory near Bristol with a van, then used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy computers, drones and a battle simulator, causing £1 million in damage. During the clash, Corner struck police sergeant Kate Evans with a sledgehammer, fracturing her spine. Corner faces charges of criminal damage and grievous bodily harm with intent. The retrial follows an earlier acquittal on aggravated burglary. Injuries include Evans’s lumbar fracture, Leona Kamio’s taser wounds and a sledgehammer wound to her hand.
Background
The raid took place ten months after the Gaza war began following Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks. Palestine Action said its aim was to “shut Elbit down” by damaging weapons linked to Israeli military use. The group was proscribed in the UK in July 2025 after an RAF base break-in; a High Court later ruled the proscription unlawful.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said a sledgehammer “is capable of causing serious injury” and questioned Corner’s awareness of the risk. Police confirmed Evans’s fracture and restricted duties. Defence counsel Tom Wainwright cited Corner’s autism and ADHD, arguing he acted under “extreme fear” without intent to cause serious harm. Kamio’s employer said her absence “upset and confused” the children she teaches.
Criticism & Opposition
Police, lawmakers and Jewish communal groups condemned the raid and the earlier acquittal as “dangerous” and “unlawful”. The July 2025 ban on Palestine Action reflects governmental concern over repeated incursions on defence sites.
On-the-Ground Accounts
Kamio said a security guard charged toward the activists, prompting her to shout “fuck off”. Peter Adams tasered her, after which she screamed “You’re fucking hitting me”. Corner testified he heard “someone screaming” and believed a fellow activist was being harmed, leading him to strike Sgt Evans with the sledgehammer.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Corner could not recall striking Evans, yet video shows blows. Kamio could not identify who caused her sledgehammer wound. Sources differ on whether the officer was a sergeant or constable, though court records name Sgt Kate Evans. The number of weapons destroyed is unspecified beyond “computers, drones and a battle simulator”.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It seemed reasonable to do something and I had to act quickly.” — Samuel Corner, Defendant
- “I would never want to seriously hurt anyone.” — Samuel Corner, Defendant
- “you’re fucking hitting me” — Leona Kamio, Defendant (body-worn camera)
- “destroy as many weapons as possible and shut the site down” — Charlotte Head, Defendant
What’s Next
The retrial continues at Woolwich Crown Court. Verdicts on the criminal-damage and grievous-bodily-harm charges will determine custodial sentences and may shape prosecutions of similar protest actions. The government’s appeal of the Palestine Action proscription remains pending.
