Four Palestine Action activists who caused approximately \£1.2 million in damage to an Elbit Systems factory in the UK are pursuing an appeal against their prison sentences. The activists, Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, and Fatema Rajwani, were convicted of criminal damage and, in Corner's case, causing grievous bodily harm during a raid on the facility near Bristol in August 2024. Their solicitor, Simon Natas, stated that they intend to seek permission to appeal their sentences in the Court of Appeal, arguing they are excessive and that the judge erred in classifying their actions as terrorism.
During the August 2024 incident, the four individuals, wearing red jumpsuits, used sledgehammers and crowbars to damage computers, drones, and other equipment at the Elbit Systems site. Charlotte Head drove a van used to breach the factory gates. Samuel Corner struck a police officer, Sergeant Kate Evans, twice with a sledgehammer, resulting in a fractured spine. Sergeant Evans has reported ongoing pain and panic attacks following the assault and was demoted from sergeant to police constable.
In June, Mr. Justice Johnson sentenced Corner to seven years and eight months for criminal damage and grievous bodily harm. Head and Kamio received five-year sentences, and Rajwani was sentenced to four years and eight months, all for criminal damage. The judge's ruling that the raid constituted an 'act of terrorism' has significant implications, requiring the activists to serve at least two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for parole. They will also face an additional year on license and terrorist notification requirements for 15 years.
Their solicitor contends that classifying the property damage as an act of terrorism is unprecedented for direct action protests in the UK, citing his extensive experience with groups like Extinction Rebellion. He argued that the activists' intent was to destroy weapons destined for Israel, not to influence the government or intimidate the public. However, the judge concluded that the operation aimed to halt Elbit Systems' operations and pressure the UK government to block its activities, aligning with the definition of terrorism for advancing an ideological or political cause.
Families of the convicted activists have spoken out against the sentencing. Fatema Rajwani's mother described the case as the first time property damage has been equated to terrorism in British history, attributing the decision to the Crown Prosecution Service and the judge. Leona Kamio's mother stated her daughter acted out of distress over the conflict in Gaza. Human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield KC commented that the sentences undermine jury trial integrity, as individuals are being sentenced as terrorists without a jury determining that specific charge.
In a statement from prison, Charlotte Head suggested the case was politically manipulated to justify the proscription of Palestine Action. The raid was cited as a contributing factor in the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in July 2025. However, the High Court later deemed the proscription unlawful, a decision that has been subject to further appeal.
The sentences have also drawn criticism from various political figures. Green Party leader Zack Polanski called them 'gut-wrenching' and a threat to protest rights, a view countered by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who highlighted Sergeant Evans' injuries. Former Labour leaders Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell also criticized the sentences, emphasizing that the defendants were not convicted of terrorism by a jury.