Activists Acquitted of Burglary at Israeli Arms Site in the UK

Defendants in Filton24 Case Acquitted Due to Lack of Evidence

Six defendants linked to the pro-Palestine campaign group Palestine Action have been formally acquitted of aggravated burglary charges at an Israeli arms company in Bristol, UK. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that it was unable to provide sufficient evidence to support the charge.

The acquittal came after a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, where prosecutors stated they could not proceed against those who had yet to go on trial. Five of the defendants, who were granted bail, will be released from custody on Wednesday, with one person requiring additional bail for another case they are charged with.

The Filton24 Defence Committee reported that three defendants, including Zoe Rogers and Fatema Zainab Rajwani, were also acquitted of violent disorder charges. The jury reached no verdicts on the remaining counts, resulting in the six defendants not being convicted of any offence.

A spokesperson for the Filton24 Defence Committee described the outcome as a “significant victory”. Prosecutors have agreed to retry cases where no verdicts were reached. Several defendants are expected to apply for bail in the coming weeks.

Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest private arms company, has been targeted by several demonstrations amid ongoing tensions over Israel’s actions in Gaza. The UK has seen repeated protests and legal challenges related to protest-related arrests and pro-Palestine activism.

Source: Al Jazeera