Palestine Action Activists to Face Retrial Over Elbit Systems Break-In

Six members of the activist group Palestine Action are set to face a retrial on charges of criminal damage and violent disorder related to a break-in at the Elbit Systems UK facility near Bristol in August 2024. The defendants—Charlotte Head, 29; Samuel Corner, 23; Leona Kamio, 30; Fatema Rajwani, 21; Zoe Rogers, 22; and Jordan Devlin, 31—were previously acquitted of aggravated burglary earlier this month. However, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on the remaining charges, prompting the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue a retrial.

The incident involved activists driving a repurposed prison van into the facility's perimeter fence and causing significant damage to property and equipment. Prosecutors allege that the group aimed to disrupt the operations of Elbit Systems, an Israeli-linked defense technology company. The activists have maintained that their actions were intended to prevent the production of military equipment used in conflicts involving Palestinians.

The retrial is expected to address the unresolved charges, focusing on the extent of the damage caused and the nature of the activists' conduct during the break-in. The case has drawn attention to the tactics employed by protest groups and the legal boundaries of direct action in the UK.