Palestine Action activists to face retrial over raid on UK Elbit factory, alleged sledgehammer attack on cop

Six British anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian activists will face a retrial on a number of charges relating to a 2024 raid on Israeli defense firm Elbit’s UK factory, in which a police officer’s spine was allegedly fractured in a filmed sledgehammer attack.

Samuel Corner, 23, Charlotte Head, 29, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, are all accused in connection with the raid on the site near Bristol.

Last month, a jury failed to reach verdicts on criminal damage charges against all six defendants. In addition, Rajwani, Rogers and Devlin were found not guilty of violent disorder, with verdicts not reached for the three others.

The jury additionally did not reach a verdict against Corner for the charge of causing grievous bodily harm, despite him being filmed striking a policewoman with a sledgehammer and fracturing her lumbar spine.

Prosecutors say there will be a retrial for all charges which had not ended in verdicts. The trial is expected to take place next February.

The attack on the female officer left her initially unable to drive, dress or shower without assistance, she has said, adding that she took painkillers to handle the “intense pain.” She could not work for three months, the BBC reported, and was later put on restricted duties.

Prosecutors said the raid caused about 1 million pounds ($1.4 million) of damage.

Police and Jewish groups had criticized the outcome of the trial.

Last week, Britain’s High Court ruled that the government’s decision to outlaw Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful, but kept the ban in place pending another hearing while the government prepares an appeal.

Officials say Palestine Action’s activities have caused millions of pounds in damage that affects national security.