Group planned 'as much damage as possible' - court

Palestine Action supporters broke into a factory in Kent armed with sledgehammers, bolt cutters, smoke bombs and fireworks intent on causing as much damage as they could, a court has heard.

A security guard was sprayed with red paint and another's Land Rover was smashed up with him inside it during the dawn raid on Instro Precision in Sandwich on 17 June 2024, the Old Bailey was told.

Nine men and women are on trial accused of criminal damage, burglary with intent and violent disorder.

Prosecutor Anne Whyte KC said the group intended to "smash up" the premises "until they were stopped".

The defendants were said to be followers of the banned Palestine Action group which had deliberately targeted the plant for its association with Elbit, an Israeli-linked defence company.

Whyte said: "The attack was carefully planned, and everyone involved had their own specific role."

The attackers were broadly split into two groups, one dressed in black boiler suits and the others in red, jurors were told on Tuesday.

The former were there to "overwhelm" security guards, enabling the latter team to enter the building and cause "extensive damage", Whyte said.

Others were involved as organisers, drivers or tasked with blocking entry to the site, the court was told.

In the days leading up to the break-in, a "safe house" was said to have been rented in Herne Bay, with defendants converging on Kent from various locations around the UK.

A white van was also hired to transport the group to Instro and help some of them get away after the attack, the court heard.

Parts of the attack itself were captured on various cameras including CCTV and the intruders' mobile phones, jurors were told.

Security staff eventually managed to raise the alarm and, after more guards arrived, six of the red team were said to have been detained before police attended the scene.

The black team went back to the hired van and arrived back at the safe house at about 04.35 BST, the prosecution told the Old Bailey.

The nine men and women on trial allegedly include members of the red team, one of the black team and others who helped at the perimeter, along with travel and other arrangements.

The defendants are: Julija Brigadirova, 34, from Manchester; Nasser Akhtar, 39, of Crystal Palace; Elliot Wilson, 26 from Liverpool; Maximillian Dixon, 31, of Brockley, south-east London; Nirad Abrol, 27, of Birmingham; Seirol Davies, 31, from Plymouth; Xavi Davies, 23, of Binfield, Berkshire; Eoin O'Meara, 36, of Bristol; and Hannah Davidson, 53, of Edinburgh.

They deny the charges against them as the trial continues.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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