On August 22, 2025, two high-profile court cases unfolded in London, drawing renewed attention to the UK government’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism and the legal fallout from protests targeting military and defense sites. At the heart of these proceedings are members of Palestine Action, a campaign group recently designated as a terrorist organization by the British government, whose direct actions have sparked fierce debate over protest, security, and civil liberties.
In a packed courtroom at the Old Bailey, six individuals—Louie Adams, 33, Harland Archer, 20, Finn Collins, 19, Moiz Ibrahim, 27, Salaam Mahmood, 19, and Liam Mullany, 33—stood accused of aggravated burglary, criminal damage exceeding £1 million, and violent disorder. Prosecutors allege that these charges stem from an August 2024 break-in at Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense firm with facilities in Bristol. According to BBC reporting, the group is alleged to have used sledgehammers during the break-in, causing significant damage to the site. The case has grown in scale over the past year, with 24 people now facing charges related to the incident.
The gravity of the allegations was underscored by the prosecution’s language in court. Prosecutors described the offences as having a “terrorist connection,” a characterization that has become central to the government’s narrative since the proscription of Palestine Action on July 5, 2025. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, presiding over the hearing, explained the logistical challenges facing the court: “The Crown Court does not have the capacity to conduct a trial with more than six co-defendants in custody at the same time.” As a result, the earliest date for a fourth trial involving these defendants is February 2027, though efforts are underway to expedite proceedings.
Outside the Old Bailey, the scene was charged with emotion and political symbolism. Protesters, many wearing Palestinian keffiyehs and holding banners denouncing the UK’s arms trade with Israel, gathered to show solidarity with the accused. Signs reading “Stop the genocide, solidarity, Stop arming Israel” reflected the broader context of the demonstrations and the group’s stated goals. According to BBC, these protests have become a regular feature of court dates for Palestine Action members, highlighting the tension between public dissent and national security concerns.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related case, Muhammad Umer Khalid, 22, appeared via video link from Wormwood Scrubs prison to face charges stemming from a dramatic break-in at RAF Brize Norton on June 20, 2025. Khalid is accused of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for purposes prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK. According to The Guardian, the incident saw activists enter the airbase on electric scooters and spray-paint two RAF Voyager aircraft, causing an estimated £7 million in damage. Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay KC described the operation as a “sophisticated and carefully planned attack” with a “terrorist connection.”
Khalid is the fifth person to be charged in connection with the RAF Brize Norton break-in, joining Amy Gardiner-Gibson (29), Jony Cink (24), Daniel Jeronymides-Norie (36), and Lewis Chiaramello (22), all of whom remain in custody. Their next court appearance is set for January 16, 2026, with a provisional trial date scheduled for January 18, 2027. The case has drawn particular attention due to the government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in the immediate aftermath of the incident—a move that has had sweeping consequences for activists nationwide.
Inside the courtroom, Khalid’s legal team argued for his release on bail, citing his role as a carer for his mother, whose cancer had recently progressed from stage 1 to stage 2. Rabah Kherbane, Khalid’s lawyer, emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the request: “We have circumstances in Mr Khalid’s particular case where for the first time on 3rd August, he learnt that his mother’s cancer had deteriorated from stage 1 to stage 2; so any attitude to bail conditions must now be viewed from that lens where he must tend to his mother who is unwell.” The court also heard that Khalid’s father, a taxi driver, had offered a £4,000 guarantee for bail, and that Khalid’s mother was present in the courtroom.
Despite these appeals, Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb denied bail, citing concerns over Khalid’s previous bail breaches and the risk that he might abscond. The judge acknowledged the family’s hardship, stating, “The court has sympathy, of course, with the family and the blow it has delivered to them. But the applicant knew that he was his mother’s carer, and now charged... this is something he has to bear in mind as his responsibility and the fact that the alleged victim broke previous bail conditions.” According to Middle East Eye, Khalid remains in custody at Wormwood Scrubs, awaiting trial.
The government’s crackdown on Palestine Action has triggered a wave of arrests and legal proceedings across the country. Since the group’s proscription on July 5, more than 700 people have been detained, including 532 in a single mass protest at Parliament Square. Most face charges under anti-terror laws for supporting a banned organization. The sheer scale of the response has raised concerns among human rights advocates and civil liberties groups.
Amnesty International has responded with what it describes as an “unprecedented urgent action” against the UK, calling on supporters worldwide to pressure British authorities to abandon the trials of up to 700 people. The group, which typically reserves such measures for cases involving political prisoners in authoritarian regimes, argues that the UK’s actions represent a serious threat to the right to peaceful protest. “We only launch such actions where we believe that there is an urgent need for intervention to stop human rights violations or abuses against an individual or group,” Amnesty International stated, highlighting the exceptional nature of its campaign targeting the UK government.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended the ban, insisting that some supporters “don’t know the full nature” of Palestine Action and emphasizing that it is “not a non-violent organisation.” The government maintains that the group’s repeated targeting of defense and military infrastructure poses a genuine threat to public safety and national interests. According to the Ministry of Defence, RAF Brize Norton was specifically targeted because it serves as a departure point for flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, a base used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East—a claim echoed by Palestine Action in statements to the press.
As the legal battles continue, Palestine Action is preparing to challenge the government’s decision to proscribe the group. A court has granted permission for a judicial review of the ban, setting the stage for a potentially landmark test of the UK’s approach to protest, security, and civil liberties in the context of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
This series of court cases and political maneuvers has brought the debate over protest, security, and human rights to the forefront of public discourse in Britain. With trials stretching years into the future, the outcome will likely shape the landscape of activism and government response for years to come.
