Four UK pro-Palestinian activists jailed for Elbit raid in which one hit a policewoman with sledgehammer; judge highlights ‘terrorist connection’

Four British pro-Palestinian activists were sentenced to a total of more than 20 years over a 2024 raid on a factory operated by Israeli defense firm Elbit that caused more than £1 million of damage, with the judge giving longer terms after determining there was a “terrorism connection.”

Charlotte Head, 30, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Zainab Rajwani, 21, were members of the banned group Palestine Action, which organized the assault on the Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol, southwest England, two years ago.

They were convicted of criminal damage at Woolwich Crown Court in May, while Corner, who prosecutors said hit a police officer with a sledgehammer, was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm. Corner was given the lengthiest jail term of the four.

They had previously been acquitted of aggravated burglary.

Prosecutors said the incident should be treated as having a terrorism connection and the four should be sentenced accordingly with harsher punishments, drawing condemnation from human rights groups and high-profile supporters.

Judge Jeremy Johnson said it was an “aggravating factor that the offending had a terrorist connection,” but adds that their previous good character was a substantial mitigating factor.

He sentences Corner to seven years and eight months in total for the two convictions, after finding he used “extreme and gratuitous” force and that his autism didn’t explain why he swung the sledgehammer.

Kamio and Head are sentenced to five years while Rajwani was sentenced to four years and eight months for the criminal damage. They will all spend another year on license after release.