Six protesters are accused of breaking into Elbit Systems UK's Bristol site on 6 August, allegedly causing 1m of property damage and using sledgehammers. The six defendants face charges of aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder and were remanded in custody. Court officials indicated the trial may be delayed until February 2027 because Woolwich Crown Court lacks capacity for a trial involving more than six defendants at once. Twenty-four people have now been charged in connection with the Bristol incident. Separately, a 22-year-old faces charges over an RAF Brize Norton attack that allegedly caused 7m of damage; Palestine Action has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
The alleged attack was estimated to cause 1m worth of damage to property at Elbit Systems UK's Bristol site in August 2024. The defendants were allegedly armed with sledgehammers when they broke into the defence firm's site in the early hours of 6 August. Elbit Systems UK is a subsidiary of the Israeli defence company Elbit Systems. They were told they could have to wait until February 2027 for their case to be tried.
Muhammad Umer Khalid, 22, also appeared in court on Friday in connection with a separate incident linked to Palestine Action. Khalid allegedly took part in an attack on two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, resulting in an estimated 7m worth of damage to the Voyager planes. On 20 June 2025, protesters on e-scooters allegedly broke into the military base and used fire extinguishers to spray red paint and threw metal crowbars into the engines.
Following the Brize Norton incident, Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist group, making it an offence to be part of or express support for the group. Elbit Systems UK could be close to winning a 2bn defence contract for the Army Collective Training Service, it has been reported. The UK defence programme would overhaul army training, and Elbit is one of a consortium of defence companies bidding for the 15-year contract, The Times reported.
Collection
[
|
...
]