Palestine Action Group has targeted city businesses more than 20 times

OON-TO-BE-BANNED Palestine Action targeted Bristol-based businesses more than 20 times

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The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday announced she had decided to proscribe the group and will lay an order before Parliament next week to make membership and support for it illegal.

It followed the vandalism of two planes inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Friday.

The organisation formed in July 2020 but has dramatically increased its activity since October 2023.

In Bristol the group's primary focus has been on Elbit Systems UK in Filton, which it claims manufactures weapons for the Israeli military.

The company denies this and has said its UK arm supplies the British military and nothing made in Bristol is sold to Israel.

However, linked company Elbit Systems Ltd is an Israeli-based defence company.

The most notable of the Bristol attacks was in August last year when the group announced it had smashed into the Elbit Systems UK’s premises using a prison van and destroyed equipment inside.

Police said Elbit workers were assaulted with weapons with one suffering a head injury. Two police officers were also alleged to have been attacked with a sledgehammer.

Eighteen people are currently awaiting trial.

Other incidents claimed by Palestine Action include an attack on Barclays in Broadmead on June 10 last year during which the windows were smashed and red paint thrown.