Latest news with #ElbitSystemsUK
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Judge allows Palestine Action to challenge Home Office over terrorism ban
Banned group Palestine Action will be able to challenge the Home Office over its proscription as a terrorist organisation, a judge has ruled. The co-founder of the pro-Palestinian action group, Huda Ammori, has sought to challenge the government's decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws. Home secretary Yvette Cooper decided to proscribe the group, effectively branding it a terrorist organisation, after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and sprayed two military planes with red paint. She also cited the group's protest at a weapons equipment factory in Glasgow in 2022, which reportedly caused more than £1m worth of damage, and its targeting of Elbit Systems UK, a defence technology company. The ban came into force in early July making supporting Palestine Action a criminal offence, with membership or expressing support for the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Over 80 organisations are already proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, including al-Qaeda and the Wagner group. Britain's proscription of Palestine Action was condemned as a 'disturbing misuse' of counter-terror laws by the United Nations human rights chief last week. Volker Turk urged the UK to lift the ban, which he said was 'disproportionate and unnecessary'. Earlier this month, lawyers for Ms Ammori asked a judge to allow her to bring a High Court challenge over the ban, describing it as an 'unlawful interference' with freedom of expression. Raza Husain KC, for Ms Ammori, told the court that the ban had made the UK 'an international outlier' and was 'repugnant'. Mr Husain added: 'The decision to proscribe Palestine Action had the hallmarks of an authoritarian and blatant abuse of power.' Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, said in written submissions that by causing serious damage to property, Palestine Action was 'squarely' within part of the terrorism laws used in proscription. He said: 'There is no credible basis on which it can be asserted that the purpose of this activity is not designed to influence the g overnment, or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.'
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Five people charged over alleged defence firm raid
Five people are due to appear before magistrates following a break-in at weapons firm during a Palestine Action protest. The group is accused of forcing their way into Elbit Systems UK, based near Bristol, on 6 August 2024. They are charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder. Counter Terrorism Policing South East carried out a series of raids on Tuesday before making the arrests. Palestine Action allege Elbit Systems UK is involved in the manufacture and supply of weapons to the Israeli military - a claim the company strongly denies. Finn Collins, 20, from Whitstable in Kent, Harland Archer, also 20 and from Whitstable, Salaam Mahmood, 19, from London, Moiz Ibrahim, 27, from London and Louie Adams, 33, from London, will all appear from custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court later. A 66-year-old man from Bristol was also arrested, but has since been released without charge. Ten people were arrested shortly after the incident last year and a further eight in November. All 18 were later charged and are awaiting trial. Palestine Action was proscribed as terrorist organisation by the UK government earlier this month. Supporting the group is now classed as a criminal offence, with membership or expressing support for it punishable by up to 14 years in prison. More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Five more arrested over raid at defence firm Palestine Action banned after judge denies temporary block Related internet links HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Five people charged over alleged defence firm raid
Five people are due to appear before magistrates following a break-in at weapons firm during a Palestine Action protest. The group is accused of forcing their way into Elbit Systems UK, based near Bristol, on 6 August 2024. They are charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder. Counter Terrorism Policing South East carried out a series of raids on Tuesday before making the arrests. Palestine Action allege Elbit Systems UK is involved in the manufacture and supply of weapons to the Israeli military - a claim the company strongly denies. Finn Collins, 20, from Whitstable in Kent, Harland Archer, also 20 and from Whitstable, Salaam Mahmood, 19, from London, Moiz Ibrahim, 27, from London and Louie Adams, 33, from London, will all appear from custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court later. A 66-year-old man from Bristol was also arrested, but has since been released without charge. Ten people were arrested shortly after the incident last year and a further eight in November. All 18 were later charged and are awaiting trial. Palestine Action was proscribed as terrorist organisation by the UK government earlier this month. Supporting the group is now classed as a criminal offence, with membership or expressing support for it punishable by up to 14 years in prison. More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Five more arrested over raid at defence firm Palestine Action banned after judge denies temporary block Related internet links HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
19-07-2025
- BBC News
Palestine Action members charged over alleged Elbit Systems raid
Five people are due to appear before magistrates following a break-in at weapons firm during a Palestine Action protest. The group is accused of forcing their way into Elbit Systems UK, based near Bristol, on 6 August 2024. They are charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder. Counter Terrorism Policing South East carried out a series of raids on Tuesday before making the Action allege Elbit Systems UK is involved in the manufacture and supply of weapons to the Israeli military - a claim the company strongly denies. Finn Collins, 20, from Whitstable in Kent, Harland Archer, also 20 and from Whitstable, Salaam Mahmood, 19, from London, Moiz Ibrahim, 27, from London and Louie Adams, 33, from London, will all appear from custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court later.A 66-year-old man from Bristol was also arrested, but has since been released without charge. Ten people were arrested shortly after the incident last year and a further eight in 18 were later charged and are awaiting Action was proscribed as terrorist organisation by the UK government earlier this month. Supporting the group is now classed as a criminal offence, with membership or expressing support for it punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- BBC News
Police set up Bristol cordon as more Elbit raid arrests made
A sixth person has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation in which 18 people have been charged with numerous terror-related of the recently proscribed group Palestine Action are accused of breaking into the Elbit Systems UK site near Bristol on 6 August last year.A 20-year-old man from London has been taken into custody, alongside the arrests of five other people on Tuesday in connection with the investigation. The BBC also understands a cordon set up by the Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) in St Werburghs, Bristol, on Tuesday is connected to the latest arrests. Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) said the arrested people were detained on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act Action allege Elbit Systems UK is involved in the manufacture and supply of weapons to the Israeli military - a claim the company strongly six arrested this week - a 66-year-old man from Bristol, a 20-year-old woman from Whitstable in Kent, a 19-year-old man from London, a 27-year-old man from London, a 33-year-old man from London, and a 20-year-old man from London - remain in Action was declared a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000 on 5 July.
