Four members of the activist group Palestine Action are set to be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday for a violent raid on an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol that caused roughly £1 million in damage and left a police officer with a fractured spine. More than 90 celebrities, from Steve Coogan to Greta Thunberg, have signed a letter urging the judge to ignore any “terrorist connection” when determining the punishments.

£1 million damage and a fractured spine: the facts of the Bristol raid

The court heard that Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani used a stolen prison van to breach the Elbit factory gates, then employed sledgehammers and crowbars to smash equipent. security guards and police were confronted, and Samuel Corner was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm after a sledgehammer fractured a police officer’s spine.

According to the source report, the defendants were convicted after two trials of criminal damage amounting to approximately £1 million. the judge, Mr Justice Johnson, will now decide whether the offence carries a “terrorist conenction,” a factor that could increase the sentences.

High Court’s unlawful proscription of Palestine Action fuels legal uncertainty

The government previously listed Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, but the High Court ruled that proscription unlawful, leaving the group’s status in limbo. The Court of Appeal is expected to issue a definitive ruling soon, meaning the judge’s decision on the “terrorist connection” will hinge on an unsettled legal definition.

As the source notes, the unresolved status of Palestine Action adds a layer of complexity: a terrorist label could be applied without a jury’s knowledge, potentially leading to harsher penalties for the activists.

Celebrity coalition cites protest rights in letter to the court

Among the signatories are actors Steve Coogan, Charlotte Church, and Ken Loach, as well as climate activist Greta Thunberg. The letter argues that labeling the raid as terrorism would undermine the right to protest and compromise judicial impartiality.

“Sentencing the protesters as terrorists would be a grave miscarriage of justice,” the coalition wrote, emphasizing that the activists aimed to block UK arms supplies to Israel in response to the Gaza conflict.

Political backlash: accusations of bias and calls for accountability

Lord Walney, a cross‑bench peer and former adviser on political violence, condemned the celebrity appeal, saying the signatories show more sympathy for the activists than for the injured officer. Senior Tory MP Chris Philp called the campaign “utterly disgraceful,” stressing the seriousness of the violent crimes.

Additionally, Misan Harriman, chairman of the Southbank Centre’s board, faced criticism for his own divisive social‑media posts and was urged to step down, highlighting the broader cultural debate surrounding the case.

What remains unresolved: the terrorist label and sentencing range

The judge must interpret the November ruling on “terrorist connection” while the Court of Appeal’s decision on Palestine Action’s sttaus looms.. Two specific unknowns are whether the court will deem the raid terrorist‑linked and how much the label, if applied, will increase the custodial terms.

According to the source, the sentencing could vary widely, but no concrete figures have been disclosed, leaving observers to watch for the court’s final determination.