Overview
- A Woolwich Crown Court judge applied a legal test that the August 6, 2024 Filton raid had a “terrorist connection” and on Friday sentenced Samuel Corner to seven years and eight months, Charlotte Head and Leona Kamio to five years each, and Fatema Rajwani to four years and eight months.
- The four were convicted in May of criminal damage at Elbit Systems’ UK factory and Corner was also found guilty of grievous bodily harm for striking a police officer who later suffered a fractured spine.
- Because the judge treated the offences as having a terrorist connection the defendants must serve at least two thirds of their terms, will face Parole Board scrutiny for release, and will be subject to long‑term notification and monitoring requirements.
- Hundreds of supporters protested outside the sentencing hearing and police made large numbers of arrests for supporting a proscribed group, with official Metropolitan Police figures reported at about 72 and several outlets reporting more than 100 detentions.
- The case intersects with the wider legal fight over the Home Office proscription of Palestine Action, which the High Court ruled unlawful and which is under appeal next week, and human rights groups warn the decision could narrow the space for direct‑action protest.