Four Palestine Action Activists Jailed for Elbit Factory Raid and Violent Assault

Four Palestine Action activists were jailed for a combined 22 years and four months after being convicted over a raid on an Israeli-owned Elbit Systems UK defence factory near Bristol in August 2024 that caused about £1.2 million in damage and saw a police sergeant struck with a sledgehammer in an attack that fractured her spine.

At Woolwich Crown Court, Charlotte Head, 30, and Leona Kamio, 30, were each sentenced to five years in prison, Fatema Rajwani, 21, received four years and eight months, and Samuel Corner, 23, was jailed for seven years and eight months after also being convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

The court heard the defendants drove a prison van through the factory gates before carrying out what Mr Justice Johnson described as a “carefully planned and highly sophisticated attack”. About £1.2 million of damage was caused to equipment inside the site, including damage to 41 military assets and components of an unnamed drone system.

During the raid, Sgt Kate Evans attended the scene and was struck with a sledgehammer by Corner, causing fractures to her spine. CCTV and body-worn footage of the incident formed part of the evidence before the court.

Sentencing Corner, the judge said he had used “extreme and gratuitous force against a vulnerable police officer who was acting in the course of her duties”. He noted that Corner had shown no remorse for the attack.

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In a victim personal statement, Sgt Evans said the incident had had a “profound and long-lasting” impact on her physical health, mental wellbeing and career. She said she continued to receive medical treatment and had been forced to give up her rank in the aftermath of the attack.

Mr Justice Johnson also ruled that the criminal damage offences had a terrorist connection under Section 69 of the Sentencing Act because they involved serious damage to property intended to influence the Government and advance a political or ideological cause.

The finding means the offenders must serve at least two-thirds of their sentences in custody and will be subject to terrorist notification requirements for 15 years after their release. It does not amount to convictions for terrorism offences.

Defence lawyers argued the terrorism finding represented an unprecedented extension of the law because the defendants had not been convicted of terrorism offences. Prosecutors said the statutory test was met because the offences involved serious property damage committed to advance an ideological cause and influence government.

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