Britain designates protest damage as terrorism in unprecedented ruling

A UK judge for the first time added a terrorism connection to the criminal-damage convictions of four Palestine Action activists who raided an Elbit Systems UK plant, sentencing Leona Kamio and Charlotte Head to six years, Fatema Rajwani to five years eight months, and Samuel Corner to eight years eight months. Jurors had convicted them only of criminal damage, not terrorism. Justice Jeremy Johnson said the acts were intended to intimidate the UK government and public to advance a political cause, allowing a sentencing boost under section 69 of the Sentencing Act. The ruling followed a forensic report estimating about £1.2 million in damage, a report whose timing and reliability were questioned by the defence. Two co-defendants were cleared, and protests gathered outside the court.