Police have apprehended 72 individuals who were showing support for Palestine Action during a demonstration where four people are facing sentencing for a break-in at a defense company with Israeli ties.
The break-in, carried out by Samuel Corner, Charlotte Head, Leona Kamio, and Fatema Rajwani, resulted in £1 million worth of damage to the Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol on August 6, 2024.
After a recent retrial, the group was convicted of causing criminal damage and may face imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court, where approximately 500 individuals have gathered to demonstrate solidarity.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed the arrest of 72 individuals outside the court for backing Palestine Action, all of whom are currently in police custody.
Palestine Action was designated as a terrorist group by a governmental order in July of the previous year. However, this designation was deemed unlawful by the High Court in February of the current year.
Despite the ruling against the ban, the Metropolitan Police emphasized that supporting the group remains a criminal offense. The Court of Appeal is set to make a decision on whether to uphold this ruling on Monday.
“We are committed to upholding the current laws and regulations, irrespective of any potential future changes. Our actions are consistent and impartial,” stated the police force.
During the afternoon, numerous protesters, including a middle-aged man displaying solidarity with Palestine Action, were detained by law enforcement officers, with some carried away in police vehicles.
Various demonstrators were seen holding placards with messages such as “Supporting Palestine Action is not terrorism, it saves lives.”
According to prosecutors, the individuals involved in the 2024 raid on the Bristol factory utilized a prison van as a means to gain entry into Elbit Systems UK.
Clad in red boiler suits and armed with sledgehammers, the four individuals splattered red paint from fire extinguishers and used crowbars and hammers to vandalize computers, drones, and other equipment.
One police officer, Sergeant Kate Evans, sustained a fractured spine after being struck by Corner, who claimed he was attempting to protect another activist in distress.
Head, Kamio, and Rajwani were convicted of criminal damage at Woolwich Crown Court the previous week, while Corner was found guilty of inflicting serious bodily harm.