Full Breakdown
Jury Discharges Seven Palestine Action Defendants After Inconclusive Verdicts
8/20/2026, 8:10:37 AM
Core Event: Jury Unable to Convict Seven Organisers of Elbit Factory Raid
After an eight-week trial at the Old Bailey, jurors were discharged without reaching verdicts for seven of the eight defendants accused of coordinating a break-in at the Elbit Systems factory in Filton, near Bristol. An unnamed defendant was found guilty of criminal damage by a 9-1 majority. The remaining defendants—Will Plastow, Madeleine Norman, Hannah Davidson, Ian Sanders, Aleksandra Herbich, Teuta Hoxha, Sean Middlebrough and Yulia Brigadirova—may face a retrial.
Background & Context
On August 6, 2024, activists from Palestine Action planned a raid on the Israeli-owned arms maker Elbit Systems. Six “red team” members entered the site and damaged more than a dozen drones. Prosecutors charged the eight organisers under the joint-enterprise doctrine, alleging they facilitated reconnaissance, equipment purchase and logistical support. The operation prompted a nationwide police response dubbed “Operation Recomply,” led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
Key Figures & Groups
- Will Plastow – defendant, previously acquitted of violent disorder.
- Madeleine Norman – defendant, accused of logistical support.
- Hannah Davidson – defendant, alleged to have given a lift to a red-team member.
- Ian Sanders – defendant.
- Aleksandra Herbich – defendant, alleged to have cooked pasta for the group.
- Teuta Hoxha – defendant, described the arrests as “terrorist prisoner” experience.
- Sean Middlebrough – defendant.
- Yulia Brigadirova – defendant, described by counsel as an “invisible coordinator.”
- Tom Copeland – lawyer for Brigadirova.
- Emma Fenn – lawyer for Herbich.
- Judge Patrick Field – presiding judge who allowed majority verdicts.
Timeline
- August 6, 2024 – Planned break-in at the Elbit factory.
- February 2024 – First trial of the six red-team members ends with mixed outcomes.
- May 2024 – Retrial of red-team members results in convictions totaling more than 25 years of prison.
- Eight-week trial (summer 2024) – Jury deliberates for approximately 37 hours.
- Wednesday, summer 2024 – Jury discharged; one unnamed defendant convicted.
- September 2024 – Hearing on a possible retrial for the eight defendants is expected.
Data & Statistics
- Eight defendants faced charges of criminal damage and violent disorder.
- Seven received no verdicts; one unnamed defendant was convicted (9-1 majority).
- Six red-team members were later sentenced to a combined more than 25 years in prison.
- Defendants spent up to 18 months in pre-trial detention, with several undertaking hunger strikes.
- Jurors deliberated for approximately 37 hours over the trial.
Official Statements & Responses
Defence lawyers stressed the lack of direct evidence linking their clients to the break-in. Tom Copeland argued that no financial transactions or Signal messages tied Brigadirova to the raid and highlighted her mental-health disclosures. Emma Fenn noted that Herbich’s alleged role was limited to cooking and cleaning, arguing this does not meet the threshold for “intentional assistance.” Judge Field’s shift to allow majority verdicts reflected the complexity of the joint-enterprise charges.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The identity of the convicted defendant remains undisclosed, creating a gap in public understanding.
- Prosecutors cited Signal-group communications as evidence, while defence counsel reported that no such messages were presented to the jury.
What’s Next
A hearing on a potential retrial for the eight defendants is slated for September 2024, though no further court dates have been confirmed. The outcome will determine whether the joint-enterprise doctrine will be applied again in similar activist-related prosecutions.
