UK judge labels Palestine Action activists as having terrorism connection in sentencing

A London judge on Friday sentenced four Palestine Action activists to prison terms ranging from five years to eight years and eight months after finding a “terrorism connection” to their convictions for criminal damage. The defendants – Leona Kamio, Samuel Corner, Fatema Rajwani and Charlotte Head – were found guilty by a jury of damaging an Elbit Systems UK facility near Bristol in August 2024. Justice Jeremy Johnson applied section 69 of the Sentencing Act, stating the offences involved serious property damage intended to intimidate the UK government and a segment of the public and to advance a political or ideological cause. The judge said the activists sought to influence the Israeli government by restricting access to weapons.

The court relied on a forensic report submitted shortly before sentencing that estimated the damage at just over £1.2 million, covering building infrastructure, IT systems, operational equipment and about 40 military-related assets. Defence counsel Rajiv Menon KC criticised the timing of the report, arguing it was introduced too late for the defence to examine and contained speculative figures. He warned that using the report for sentencing could breach the defendants’ right to a fair trial.

The sentences were pronounced as families and supporters watched from the gallery. Outside the court, hundreds of demonstrators gathered, and police reported more than 100 arrests for displaying supportive signs.

"Why has the prosecution served it some 20 months after the action?" Menon asked, describing the late evidence as "full of hearsay and opinion" and condemning the approach as an "aggravious breach of their right to a fair trial".

The ruling marks the first instance in British legal history where a terrorism connection has been attached to protesters convicted solely of criminal damage, without a separate terrorism conviction.