Elbit Systems attack Court told activist ‘whipped security guard’

PALESTINE Action activist “whipped” a security guard during an alleged attack on an Israel-based defence firm's UK site, a trial has heard.

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Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin are accused of carrying out a “meticulously organised” attack at an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol in the early hours of August 6 last year.

The Palestine Action activists are accused by prosecutors of breaking into the firm's UK site in a prison van before using sledgehammers as weapons on security guards and police officers while wearing red jumpsuits.

Security guard Angelo Volante told Woolwich Crown Court on Friday the activists were “armed and threatening us with harm” and “resorted to using physical violence” adding that he was “sprayed with a fire extinguisher”.

Giving evidence, Mr Volante told the trial: “I saw a large group advancing towards us while using pyrotechnics and fireworks to threaten us.”

Mr Volante told jurors he was “whipped on the right side” by Head.

After Head's lawyer Rajiv Menon KC denied this took place, Mr Volante said: “She did have a whip and she used the whip on me at some point during the struggle.”