21.04.26
In the retrial of six activists charged under the ‘Filton 24’ case, the defence will begin their case today, after jurors have been shown images of the damaged caused to Israeli military equipment and weapons in the Filton site.
The Prosecution allege that the six activists caused millions of pounds of damages during an August 2024 ‘raid’ of the premises, which is owned and operated by Elbit Systems – Israel’s largest weapons firm.
The images form part of the jury bundle, and are available to the press via the link below:
https://drive.proton.me/urls/60H9SA6K6G#RPtLcnj-5Ylf
Together, the pictures demonstrate the extent of damage caused to Israeli military drones and drone controllers, computer equipment, and facilities.
After a prior trial from November 2025 to February 2026 returned acquittals on nine charges and no verdicts on ten, the retrial commencing this week is on a reduced list of charges.
Speaking in the previous trial, defendant Zoe Rogers described having seen footage of Elbit’s ‘THOR’ drone model deployed in Gaza, the same drone which is shown to be damaged after the action at the Elbit factory. Rogers spoke about how these drones are used in Gaza to drop explosive grenades, which shoot out pellets which bounce around in bodies, ripping through multiple organs.
The activists are facing trial on charges of criminal damage. In the first trial, all six were acquitted by jury of aggravated burglary, and three of violent disorder, with the CPS subsequently acquitting the other three of the charge. One defendant, Samuel Corner, faces an additional charge of GBH with intent for which no verdict was returned previously.
