In the early hours of August 6, 2024, a dramatic and violent break-in unfolded at the Elbit Systems UK factory near Bristol, sending shockwaves through both the local community and the wider public. According to reports from BBC and The Independent, six activists associated with Palestine Action allegedly used a prison van to breach the perimeter of the defence technology site, armed with sledgehammers and pyrotechnics, and clad in red jumpsuits. What followed was an incident that would leave a police sergeant seriously injured and a group of defendants facing a host of serious charges in a high-profile trial at Woolwich Crown Court.
The prosecution alleges that Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, orchestrated the break-in with the intent to cause significant disruption. All six stand accused of aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and violent disorder, charges they strenuously deny. Samuel Corner faces an additional count of causing grievous bodily harm to police sergeant Kate Evans, which he also denies.
As the trial began, the court was shown body-worn police video footage said to capture the harrowing moments of the attack. The footage, as described by BBC, shows Samuel Corner raising a sledgehammer and bringing it down on Sgt Evans, who was attempting to handcuff one of the female defendants. Sgt Evans recounted the moment in vivid detail, telling the court, "A massive shock vibrated through my whole body. I had no idea what it was until I turned around and saw a male with a sledgehammer behind me." She continued, "It was a shock, I felt frozen. It was almost like being in a movie, everything was going so fast. It just extended through my whole body down to my legs. I felt frozen."
Sgt Evans said she recalled only one blow, but her colleague, police constable Peter Adams, testified that he saw Corner hit her on the back twice. "I remember her screaming in pain and she's fallen to the floor on her back," PC Adams told the court. The impact left Sgt Evans with a large bruise and, as later confirmed by an X-ray, a fracture to her lumbar spine.
The repercussions for Sgt Evans were severe and immediate. In her statement, she described enduring "severe pain" in her back and legs, rendering her unable to drive, shower, or dress herself. She required assistance with basic daily activities such as getting into the shower or bed, and she was unable to return to work for three months. The injury, she explained, was debilitating: "I was stunned to begin with. I didn't know what it was. I remember looking round and seeing the male with the sledgehammer behind me." The sense of shock and vulnerability was palpable in her testimony, as she described thinking, "my spine is shattered at this point."
PC Aaron Buxton, another officer present at the scene, also gave evidence about the chaotic and dangerous conditions during the break-in. According to his account, he was tackled to the ground by one activist and then saw the "blonde male"—a reference to Samuel Corner—approaching with the sledgehammer. "He has swung the sledgehammer multiple times towards me. I don't know how many times he swung it because in the moment I was scared. I believe it made contact with my right calf and my work radio. I had quite considerable pain down that area of my leg following it. Also I had slight bruising come up," PC Buxton recounted.
All six defendants were arrested at the factory in the immediate aftermath of the incident. The case has drawn significant attention not only due to the violence involved but also because of the target: Elbit Systems UK. The company is a British-registered manufacturer of defence technology equipment, with its parent company based in Israel. The site has been the focus of repeated protests and direct actions by groups critical of Israel's military activities and arms trade.
Throughout the proceedings, the prosecution has emphasized the planned and forceful nature of the break-in. The use of a prison van, the presence of multiple weapons, and the coordinated entry into the facility suggest a high degree of organization. The defendants, however, maintain their innocence, denying all charges. Their legal teams have not yet presented their full defense, and the trial is expected to continue into January 2026, as reported by BBC and The Independent.
The case has reignited debate over the tactics of activist groups like Palestine Action, whose members have targeted companies linked to the Israeli defence industry in the UK. Supporters of the group argue that such direct actions are a form of protest against what they see as complicity in human rights abuses abroad. Critics, on the other hand, contend that violent methods cross a line and put lives at risk, as tragically demonstrated by the injuries to Sgt Evans.
For the police officers involved, the events of that August night are a stark reminder of the dangers faced in the line of duty. The court heard not only about the physical injuries sustained but also the psychological impact of such a sudden and violent attack. Sgt Evans' account of feeling "frozen" and as if she were "in a movie" underscores the trauma that can result from confronting violence at close quarters.
Elbit Systems UK, meanwhile, remains at the center of both legal and political controversy. As a subsidiary of an Israeli defence conglomerate, the company has been a magnet for protest and scrutiny. The ongoing trial is likely to keep attention focused on the company and the broader questions surrounding the arms trade, activism, and public safety.
The outcome of the trial, which is set to run into the new year, could have significant implications for how activist actions are prosecuted in the UK and for the balance between protest rights and the rule of law. For Sgt Evans, her colleagues, and the accused, the proceedings represent a moment of reckoning—one that will be watched closely by many on all sides of the debate.
As the court continues to hear evidence, the story remains one of pain, protest, and the enduring challenge of policing in a world increasingly marked by passionate—and sometimes violent—disagreement.
