Palestine Action activist told security guard Israeli defence firm's UK factory 'won't exist tomorrow' during protest raid, court told

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:22, 16 April 2026 | Updated: 21:24, 16 April 2026 A Palestine Action activist told a security guard 'this place is not going to exist tomorrow' during a raid at an Israeli-linked weapons factory, a jury has heard. Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, are all charged with criminal damage after the incident at the Elbit Systems site near Bristol on August 6, 2024. Corner faces a further count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Sergeant Kate Evans, who suffered a fractured spine, the court heard. At Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, a jury was played footage of clashes between the defendants, who were seen wearing red jumpsuits, and three security guards – Nigel Shaw, Patrick Luke and Angelo Volante. Footage from a body-worn camera strapped to the chest of Mr Volante, who initially could be seen carrying a whip in one hand and a radio in the other, appeared to show him wrestling a sledgehammer out of Rogers' hands. During the confrontation, Devlin, who wore a keffiyeh tied around his waist in the footage, could be heard shouting 'it's not worth your job', 'you're not going to have a job tomorrow so don't try to protect it', and 'this place is not going to exist tomorrow'. In footage appearing to show a confrontation between Mr Shaw and Kamio, Head and Corner elsewhere in the warehouse, the activists, armed with sledgehammers and a flare, could be heard shouting 'get the f*** out'. Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the jury Mr Shaw, who could be seen pointing an umbrella at the defendants, told them 'I feel a little bit concussed', to which Kamio replied: 'You're literally bleeding.' Jordan Devlin, 31, is  one of six defendants charged with criminal damage at the Elbit Systems site near Bristol on August 6, 2024 Activist Charlotte Head, 29, arrives at Woolwich Crown Court to stand trial for criminal damage Zoe Rogers, 22, and Leona Kamio, 30, are also among those accused over the raid at the Israeli-linked defence firm Fatema Rajwani, 21, is among the six defendants standing trial for criminal damage Corner could be heard adding: 'You've only got a f****** umbrella.' Footage played to the jury recorded on Mr Luke's body-worn device appeared to show him telling the defendants they were 'going to be doing criminal damage'. Kamio could be heard responding: 'We're f****** doing that.' Ms Heer told the court footage showed Kamio using her sledgehammer to 'smash up items' inside the warehouse before she picked up a fire extinguisher. As Mr Luke backed away from the activists, Ms Heer said he told them 'police are on their way'. The defendants deny all the charges brought against them. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.