Four Palestine Action activists who damaged Israeli military assets including drones will be sentenced for an “act of terrorism”, a judge has ruled. Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona (Ellie) Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21, were found guilty of criminal damage in May after breaking into a factory in Filton, near Bristol, owned by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit in 2024. Corner was also convicted of grievous bodily harm without intent. Justice Jeremy Johnson told the Woolwich crown court that he found that the defendants “were well aware” of “the aims and strategy of Palestine Action” and that the raid was aimed at “shutting down Elbit and ending what they regarded as British complicity in Israeli war crimes” and to “intimidate it into ceasing operations or cause the government to prevent it from operating”. The destruction of military assets was “one part of a broader and more strategic purpose” to “shut down Elbit” and put “pressure on the government”, he said. He cited the destruction to things which could not be described as weapons including the “smashing of a disabled toilet” and the spraying of paint on the walls. “I am bound by the legislation to find that the offence in each case has a terrorism connection”, he said. Rajwani held her head in her hands as the judge made his remarks. Chants of hundreds of supporters of the activists gathered outside the court complex could be heard from inside the courtroom. Sentencing is expected later today. Details of the military drones damaged in the raid emerged as part of a submission from the prosecution, as it argued that the scale of the damage was significant enough to justify the application of a “terrorist connection” to the direct action group in sentencing. In court, Mira Hammad KC, representing Kamio, referred to the prosecution’s evidence which included a report from an independent forensic consultant who reviewed Elbit’s insurance claim following the raid. His report listed damage to military assets including the “Magni X” drone and multiple “Thor” drones in the “Legion X” and “Helios” configurations. Deanna Heer KC, speaking for the prosecution, argued that the activists wanted to influence the UK government and Israeli government and encouraged the judge to consider the “ideology” of Palestine Action and its “ultimate cause” to “liberate Palestine from Israel”. She pointed to a Palestine Action training manual which referred to Britain’s “imperial” role in the middle east, which she said showed that the raid was not a simple act of crime prevention. Prosecutors estimate that around £1.2m in damage was caused by the activists, including the military assets. The nature and scale of the damage to private property meant that “this is not a protest, freedom of assembly case”, she said. Read the full article: novara.media/44bcB9X

BREAKING - @zarahsultana exercises Parliamentary Privilege to expose the unjust nature of the Filton 24 re-trial. UK press has been court ordered not to publish these details. “If convicted, they and 18 others will be sentenced as terrorists, but the jury will not be told that”

Funding illegal Israeli settlements is not charitable activity. It is extremist activity. Working with Israeli human researchers, I found at least 32 UK charities who have sent £28 million to settlements in recent years. There’s a likely taxpayer subsidy of at least £5 million

Residents had to be evacuated from their homes in east Belfast following fires. Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service officers attended the scene at Lendrick Street on Tuesday night. Live updates: tinyurl.com/4xdm7tzu 📸: PA