Full Breakdown
Trial of Palestine Action Activists Over Elbit Systems Factory Raid
4/26/2026, 9:11:20 PM
Event Overview and Timeline
On 6 August 2024, six Palestine Action activists entered the Elbit Systems UK factory in Filton, near Bristol. A van forced the gate open; the group used sledgehammers and crowbars to damage computers, drones and other equipment. Police tasered and pepper-sprayed the defendants; Sergeant Kate Evans was struck twice with a sledgehammer, fracturing her spine. The defendants were charged with burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder. A retrial began at Woolwich Crown Court in May 2025.
Background and Key Participants
The raid occurred ten months after the October 2023 Hamas attacks that started the Gaza war. Palestine Action, a direct-action group opposing Israeli arms exports, organized it. The six defendants are Samuel Corner (23), Leona Kamio (30), Charlotte Head (30), Fatema Rajwani (21), Zoe Rogers (22) and Jordan Devlin (31). Their target was the UK arm of Elbit Systems, which had recently acquired UAV Tactical Systems, a supplier of tactical drones to the British Army and NATO.
Impact and Significance
Prosecutors placed damage at about £1 million. Defendants said they aimed to “shut Elbit down” by destroying drones, computers and AI-driven weaponry, arguing the technology is used in Gaza. The case tests legal limits on property-damage protests and the UK’s role in Israeli defence.
Official Statements & Responses
Leicestershire Police, with Counter-Terrorism Policing East Midlands, called the incident a coordinated burglary and violent disorder. Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the court the sledgehammer strike on Sgt Evans was “completely unreasonable” and could have paralysed her.
Criticism & Opposition
Police leaders, several MPs and Jewish communal groups condemned the raid as unlawful. The earlier verdict, leaving some charges undetermined, was criticised as lenient.
On-the-Ground Reports
Video showed Corner raising a sledgehammer and striking Sgt Evans while she knelt. Defendants said they heard a scream and thought a security guard was attacking a colleague. Rajwani called the site “accessible”; Kamio described a guard charging with an angle grinder.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources name the target as either Elbit Systems UK or UAV Tactical Systems. Police officers cited include Sgt Evans, PC Buxton and PC Adams, creating ambiguity. Accounts differ on whether the van ramming or sledgehammer break-in was primary.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It seemed reasonable to do something and I had to act quickly.” — Samuel Corner, defendant
- “we managed to get inside Elbit, it's accessible” — Fatema Rajwani, defendant
- “the AI system is the most deadly” — Jordan Devlin, defendant
- “I remember destroying weapons used to kill children,” — Zoe Rogers, defendant
What’s Next
The retrial will continue next week; the jury has yet to decide on criminal damage and violent disorder charges. A separate grievous bodily harm charge remains pending, as does the appeal of the 2025 ban on Palestine Action.
