Latest news with #InstroPrecision
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Palestine Action activists charged over UK base break-in
LONDON: Four Palestine Action activists were due in court Thursday over a break-in at a UK air force base that has provoked Britain's government to move to ban the protest group. Two aircraft in southern England were sprayed with red paint last week, causing an estimated £7 million ($9.55 million) in damages and prompting the government to seek lawmakers' approval for a ban. The group has condemned the move as an 'unhinged reaction' and is challenging its planned proscription, as the British government said it could be banned by the end of the week. Counter-terror police on Wednesday charged the four suspects with 'conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.' Prosecutors will argue the offences were terror-linked. Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35, Jony Cink, 24, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22, were remanded in custody to appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday. A 41-year-old woman who was arrested 'on suspicion of assisting an offender' has been released on bail. The proposed ban on Palestine Action would make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Announcing the clamp-down, interior minister Yvette Cooper listed other attacks by Palestine Action at the Thales defence factory in Glasgow in 2022, and two last year against Instro Precision in Kent, southeast England, and Israel-based Elbit Systems in Bristol, in the country's southwest. An urgent hearing to challenge the proscription will be held at the High Court in London on Friday. The challenge was backed by Amnesty International and other rights groups.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- The Independent
Group facing trial accused of causing £1m damage in Palestine Action protest
Ten people are facing trial accused of causing £1 million damage at a factory in Kent allegedly targeted by protest group Palestine Action. It is alleged activists filmed themselves breaking into Instro Precision in Sandwich in the early hours of last June 17, throwing stock to the ground and smashing computers with a crowbar. On Friday, 10 defendants appeared at the Old Bailey charged with criminal damage to property, aggravated burglary with intent and violent disorder. It is alleged that on June 17 2024 they 'without lawful excuse destroyed or damaged property to a value estimated to be over £1 million belonging to Instro Precision Limited, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged'. On the same date it is alleged the defendants trespassed on Instro Precision Limited 'with intent to do unlawful damage to the said building or anything therein and at the time of committing the said burglary had with you a weapon of offence'. Last June 6 it is further alleged that they 'threatened unlawful violence' that would 'cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his or her personal safety'. During the hearing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb set a plea hearing for September 26 and an eight-week trial from October 5 2026 at the Old Bailey. The defendants are: Nasser Akhtar, 37, of Crystal Palace; Julija Brigadirova, 32, from Manchester; Elliot Wilson, 25 from Liverpool; Maximillian Dixon, 29, of Brockley, south-east London; Nirad Abrol, 25, of Birmingham; Seirol Davies, 30, from Plymouth; Xavi Davies, 21, of Binfield; Eoin O'Meara, 34 of Bristol, Hannah Davidson, 52, of Edinburgh, and Nirad Abrol, 24, from Birmingham. All the defendants are on bail except Davidson and Brigadirova who appeared by videolink from Bronzefield prison.
