UK Judge Weighs Terror Label for 5 Barclays Activists Over £212,000 Damage
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 27
UK Judge Weighs Terror Label for 5 Barclays Activists Over £212,000 Damage
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 27
Summary
Five Palestine Action activists convicted over a 2024 Barclays protest in Burnley could face sentencing with a “terrorist connection” after Judge Philip Parry asked for legal submissions ahead of a 4 September hearing.
£212,000 in damage came from smashed windows and red paint at the branch, which the group targeted because Barclays held shares in Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems; prosecutors now argue trial admissions tied the action to a wider campaign.
The Crown Prosecution Service had not raised terrorism before or during trial, and the protest occurred before Palestine Action was banned and was not treated by ministers or officials as a terrorism incident.
A terrorist finding would sharply increase penalties, including at least two-thirds of a prison term served in custody and 15 years of notification requirements after release.
The case follows last month’s Filton ruling, where four Palestine Action activists became the first property-damage defendants given a terrorist connection, drawing criticism from Liberty, Amnesty and Labour MP John McDonnell.