Jury Discharged in Trial of 8 Palestine Action Activists Accused of Raiding UK Defence Firm
Quick Look
A jury at the Old Bailey was discharged after 37 hours of deliberation in the trial of 8 Palestine Action activists charged with criminal damage and violent disorder for their alleged role in planning a raid on Elbit Systems in Filton, UK.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Elbit Systems is an Israel-based defence firm with operations in the UK, previously targeted by Palestine Action for its role in Israeli military activities.
A jury has been discharged in the trial of eight Palestine Action activists who were accused of helping to organise a raid on the UK site of an Israel-based defence firm. Ian Sanders, Aleksandra Herbich, Teuta Hoxha, Sean Middleborough, Julija Brigadirova, Hannah Davidson, Madeleine Norman and William Plastow were charged with criminal damage after a raid on Elbit Systems in Filton, near Bristol, in August 2024. They were all also charged with violent disorder, although Plastow was previously found not guilty of this offence. The group denied any wrongdoing and have been on trial at the Old Bailey since 22 June. Judge Patrick Field discharged the jury earlier after 37 hours of deliberations. The court heard none of the defendants were at Elbit during raid but were alleged to have helped to plan it, including by compiling an equipment list, reconnaissance, purchasing tools and weapons used by others, and co-ordinating the break-in and its filming. The Crown Prosecution Service will now need to decide whether to seek a retrial. A hearing has been set for 14 September to decide the future of the case. The eight activists who were on trial are:
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Crown Prosecution Service will decide to seek a retrial within the next month.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the Crown Prosecution Service seek a retrial?
- What are the implications for future protests against Elbit Systems?
