Protesters from pressure group Palestine Action have targeted a Bristol-based defence firm Elbit Systems, spraying the road with red paint and blocking the entrance with a van. The protesters also had a banner that read ‘Free the Filton 10′, referring to the Palestine Action activists who have been charged with offences relating to a ram-raid attack on the company’s Horizon facility in Filton.
Elbit Systems UK is owned by Israeli arms company Elbit Systems. The protesters accuse the UK arm of the company of supplying weapons used against Palestinians in Gaza, the company says its Filton factory does not supply the Israeli military with any equipment.
Elbit Systems UK has been targeted by activists on numerous occasions in recent months. The most serious incident taking place on Tuesday, August 6. It involved a masked group breaking into the premises with a van before smashing up equipment inside.
It is alleged that employees of the company and two police officers were seriously assaulted during the break-in. Charges levelled against the suspects include criminal damage, aggravated burglary, violent disorder, grievous bodily harm with intent and actual bodily harm.
All those arrested following the action on August 6 were initially detained under the Terrorism Act, allowing police seven days to hold and question them before they had to be charged or released.
An Elbit Systems UK spokesperson said: “We are proud to provide critical support and advanced technology to the British Armed Forces from our Horizon site, and this work has continued uninterrupted today. Any claims that this facility supplies the Israeli military or Israeli Ministry of Defence are categorically false.”
A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “The British state continues to imprison the ‘Filton10’ in a bid to serve the interests Israel’s biggest weapons firm over the rights and freedoms of it’s own citizens.
“However, we refuse to allow a company profiting from the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza to continue operations on our streets. Despite the attempts to deter us, we are continuing our direct action campaign until Elbit is shut down for good.”
The 10 people so far charged in relation to the break-in on August 6 are: Ian Sanders, 45, from Regent Place, Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, charged with criminal damage and aggravated burglary; William Plastow, 33, of High Croft Avenue in Manchester, criminal damage and aggravated burglary; Madeline Norman, 29, from Wester Drylaw Drive in Edinburgh, criminal damage, aggravated burglary and violent disorder; Samuel Corner, 22, of Rock Hill, Georgeham in Devon, who is charged with violent disorder, GBH with intent and two counts of ABH; Leona Kamio, 28, from Clifden Road in Hackney, London, who is charged with violent disorder; Hannah Davidson, 51, from Calder Gardens in Edinburgh; Charlotte Head, 28, from White Ash Glade in Caerleon, near Newport, who is charged with violent disorder; Zoe Rogers, 20, from Selborne Road in Southgate, north London, who is charged with violent disorder; Jordan Devlin, 30, from Stoke Newington High Street in London, who is charged with violent disorder, and Fatama Rajwani, 20, from East Mitcham in South London, who is also charged with violent disorder.