Four jailed over roles in Palestine Action raid

FOUR Palestine Action activists have been jailed over a raid on an Israeli-linked private defence company in which a policewoman was attacked with a sledgehammer.

- BY TRISTAN KIRK

PC Kate Evans, whose spine was broken in the attack, told of her trauma during the group’s sentencing hearing yesterday.

She was hit twice by activist Samuel Corner with a 7lb sledgehammer when she was called out to the Elbit Systems UK factory in Bristol.

The four smashed into the plant with an old prison van then vandalised equipment, causing an estimated £1.2million of damage.

They were found guilty of criminal damage last month, with Corner additionally convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to PC Evans.

During yesterday’s hearing the judge ruled that the criminal damage offences had a “terrorist connection” and the sentence would reflect that.

Panic

Mr Justice Johnson said the damage done was “not trivial or minor” and the aim of the raid was to either stop Elbit operating or “cause the government to prevent it operating”.