Seven Palestine Action activists accused of storming the headquarters of a Israeli-based defence firm’s headquarters in a team armed with sledgehammers, whips, and axes have been remanded in custody.
Samuel Corner, 22, Leona Kamio, 28, Hannah Davidson, 51, Charlotte Head, 28, Zoe Rogers, 20, Jordan Devlin, 30, and Fatama Rajwani, 20, are all accused of causing £1 million of damage in a break-in at the Elbit Systems UK factory on August 6.
Just after 3.30am, a re-purposed prison van was used to ram through the gates of the facility on the outskirts of Bristol and then smashed into one of the buildings inside.
It is said two groups of Palestine Action activists were involved in the raid, divided into a team in red boiler suits and another team dressed all in black.
Westminster magistrates court heard flares and fireworks were fired by the black team outside the building, as they were allegedly armed with axes, whips, hammers, and a fire extinguisher filled with red paint during clashes with security guards.
The red team are said to have gone inside the building to cause damage, and Corner is accused of attacking two Avon and Somerset Police officers and a security guard with a sledgehammer.
“In the early hours of August 6, several members of the Palestine Action group were arrested at a factory near Bristol”, said prosecutor Laura Jeffrey.
“That factory is associated with the Israeli-linked company Elbit Systems.
“Palestine Action takes direct action against the Israeli arms trade in Britain.”
The court heard the raid was filmed by members of the group themselves and was later posted on social media by Palestine Action.
Ms Jeffrey said the group in red boiler suits “entered the warehouse and used sledgehammers to smash items within it and threaten and assault members of the security staff.
“Red paint in a fire extinguisher was used to the building and contents.
“Police attended and arrested the six suspects. A further six to eight suspects on the black team were able to flee, escaping arrest.”
At court on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram remanded the defendants into custody until a hearing at the Old Bailey on September 13.
He agreed that the case would be dealt with under the terrorism protocol, after submissions from the Crown Prosecution Service “have a terrorist connection”.
Head, a domestic abuse advocate, Rogers, who is about to start university, and Rajwani, a third-year media studies student at the University of Goldsmith, held hands as they appeared in the dock together.
They waved and made heart symbols to the public gallery as they entered the dock, and some supporters broke down in tears when the defendants were remanded in custody.
The court heard the defendants intend to fight the charges against them.
Corner, a recent University of Oxford graduate, nursery school teacher Kamio, Davidson, and metal worker Devlin appeared together in the dock in a second group.
Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East have been involved in the investigation.
Davidson, of Calder Gardens, Edinburgh is accused with her six co-defendants with criminal damage. It is said she assisted with planning of the attack.
Corner, of Rock Hill, Georgeham, Devon, Kamio, of Clifden Road, Hackney, Head, of White Ash Glade, Caerleon, Newport, Rogers, of Selborne Road, Southgate, Devlin, of Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, and Rajwani, of Commonside, East Mitcham, were all allegedly part of the attack on the premises.
They have been charged with violent disorder.
Corner also faces charges of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodilyharm.
The CPS has said a 45-year-old man from Warwickshire and a 33-year-old man from Manchester remain in custody on suspicion of a terrorism offence.
“This is a complex investigation and, while we have now secured charges against a number of people, the investigation very much continues”, said Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East.
