Archive · 4 Dec 2025
Pro-Palestinian Activists Raid Elbit Factory
Some people who support Palestine went to a factory that makes weapons in England.
They wanted to break things and stop the weapons from being made.
They say they didn't want to hurt anyone.
But the police say one of them hurt a police officer with a hammer.
Now, they are in a court trial to decide what happened.
The people who did it say they did it because they think the factory is doing bad things.
The trial is still going on.
Charlotte Head and five others are on trial for raiding an Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol.
They are charged with aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, and one defendant is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Head admitted driving a van through fences to enter the factory to destroy weapons but denied using violence against security guards or police.
Prosecutors allege the raid was a meticulously planned assault, with one defendant hitting a police officer with a sledgehammer.
Head became involved in pro-Palestinian activism after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
- Who
- Charlotte Head, 29, and five other pro-Palestinian activists
- What
- Raid on Elbit Systems UK facility, charges of aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and criminal damage
- When
- August 6, 2024, trial ongoing
- Where
- Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol, southwest England; trial at Woolwich Crown Court
- Why
- Activists claimed to oppose violence and aimed to destroy weapons; prosecutors described it as a meticulously planned assault
- Activists
- Charlotte Head, 29, and five others
- Charges
- Aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, and grievous bodily harm with intent
- Location
- Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol, southwest England
- Date of Incident
- August 6, 2024
- Defendants' Claim
- Opposed to violence, aimed to destroy weapons
- Prosecution's Claim
- Meticulously planned assault, violence used against police
- Trial Location
- Woolwich Crown Court