Leona Kamio, a member of the activist group Palestine Action, was injured during her arrest at Elbit Systems’ Israeli-owned arms factory in Filton near Bristol in August 2024, Woolwich Crown Court heard. Kamio sustained wounds inflicted by the use of a taser and a sledgehammer in the police raid, with footage of the confrontation presented as evidence in the trial.
The six defendants, including Kamio, stand charged with criminal damage linked to the break-in aimed at Elbit Systems’ facility, where they sought to disrupt the company’s development of artificial intelligence-driven military technology. These weapons systems reportedly include AI-supported drones used in conflict zones such as Gaza, according to court testimonies describing the defendants’ motivations.
Other defendants named in the case are Charlotte Head and Samuel Corner, the latter of whom faces an additional charge of grievous bodily harm related to an alleged attack on a police officer during the raid. The defendants told the court they intended to "destroy as many weapons as possible" during their unauthorized entry to the factory, focusing efforts on equipment connected to the AI research and development activities.
The trial continues to examine the scale of damages caused alongside the defendants’ justifications for their actions against what they describe as the unjust arms trade. The court also focuses on police protocols during the arrest, particularly over the use of force that led to Kamio’s injuries.
Observers will be closely following upcoming legal rulings to assess both the accountability of the protestors for the property damage and the official response to the police use of force. The case raises wider questions about the regulation of AI in military applications and law enforcement tactics during activist interventions.
Samuel Corner
Leona Kamio
Elbit Systems
Jordan Devlin
Fatema Rajwani
Filton
Woolwich Crown Court
Travis Head
Morgan Rogers
Palestine Action
