Nine alleged pro-Palestine protesters have denied breaking into the Bristol site of an Israel-based defence firm with sledgehammers, causing £1 million of damage. Elbit Systems UK’s site near Patchway, was allegedly attacked by members of Palestine Action in the early hours of last August 6.
The defendants appeared by video link from HMP Low Newton, Wormwood Scrubs and Bronzefield jail, and spoke to confirm their identities. They all pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary with intent to do unlawful damage with sledgehammers, and criminal damage and violence disorder.
They are: Charlotte Head, 28, Jordan Devlin, 30, Leona Kamio, 29, all from Hackney, east London; Samuel Corner, 22, Fatema Rajwani, 20, of Mitcham, south London, Zoe Rogers, 21, of Enfield, north London, Madeline Norman, 30, of Edinburgh, Ian Sanders, 45, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and William Plastow 34, of Manchester.
Corner, of Devon, alone denied a further charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a police sergeant. A total of 12 women and six men had been charged with offences arising from the incident.
During the hearing at the Old Bailey, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC applied for the cases to be formally joined, but said they would be split between three trials.
The first trial of eight defendants has been set for November 17 at Woolwich Crown Court.
The second trial, comprising six defendants, will begin next May 6 at the same court, and the third trial of four defendants is yet to be fixed.
Outside the central London court, a group of noisy pro-Palestine protesters demonstrated before the hearing got under way.
Kamran Ahmed, 27, of London, Julia Brigadirova, 32, of Chorlton, Manchester, Zahra Farooque, 24, of Delorme Street, west London, Aleksandra Herbich, 40, of London, Teuta Hoxha, 29, of London, all appeared via video link.
Also appearing were Hannah Davidson, 51, of Edinburgh, Sean Middleborough, 32, of Liverpool, Heba Muraisi, 30, of London and Qesser Zuhrah, 20, of London.
The remaining defendants were not asked to enter pleas to charges against them, and another plea hearing was scheduled for May 2.