Filton and Brize Norton compared: what the Elbit trials tell us about the 2027 case
The Filton trials were the first in the UK to apply a 'terrorist connection' finding to criminal damage. This comparison sets them against the Brize Norton case due in January 2027.
Key points
- On 12 June 2026 a judge at Filton ruled that the offences had a 'terrorist connection', the first time this has been applied to criminal damage in the UK. The prosecution makes the same allegation about Brize Norton.
- At the Filton retrial, four defendants were convicted and sentenced to between 5 years 8 months and 8 years 8 months. The Brize Norton case has no verdict yet.
- At the first Filton trial, juries cleared all six of aggravated burglary. At the retrial, two of the six were acquitted of criminal damage.
- The Brize Norton case uses the National Security Act 2023. The Filton material used for this comparison does not refer to it.
At the Filton retrial, Rogers and Devlin were acquitted of criminal damage, even though all six had admitted damaging the drones.
Both cases involve damage to military equipment, and both face charges beyond ordinary criminal damage. At Filton a judge found a "terrorist connection" and sentenced four people. At Brize Norton the prosecution makes the same allegation, and the trial has not begun.
#How do the two cases compare?
| Brize Norton | Filton | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 20 June 2025 | 6 August 2024 |
| Site | RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire | An Elbit Systems site at Filton, near Bristol |
| Target | Two RAF Voyager planes (ZZ338 and ZZ343) | Israeli military drones and equipment |
| Damage claimed | Prosecutors say repair costs reached £1.7 million and could rise to just under £15 million; police put the damage at about £7 million. The MoD could not substantiate these figures | An estimated £1.2 million (The Bristol Cable) |
| Charges | Conspiracy to commit criminal damage; conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK | Aggravated burglary, criminal damage, violent disorder and grievous bodily harm charges |
| National Security Act used? | Yes: conspiracy to commit a section 4 offence under the National Security Act 2023 | Not referred to in the sources used for this comparison |
| "Terrorist connection" | Alleged by the prosecution; not yet tested | Found by the judge at sentencing on 12 June 2026 |
| Remand | All six held on pre-trial remand | The first trial's six had been on remand for up to 17 months before trial |
| Outcome so far | No verdict. The first five pleaded not guilty in January 2026, and Lara Downes denies the charges. Trial due 25 January 2027 (Woolwich Crown Court) | First trial: all six cleared of aggravated burglary, and three cleared of violent disorder; the jury could not agree on criminal damage. Retrial: four convicted of criminal damage, two acquitted. Four sentenced on 12 June 2026, and seven alleged organisers' trial ended without a verdict in August 2026 |
#What happened at Filton?
Activists drove a converted prison van through the fence of an Elbit Systems site at Filton near Bristol on 6 August 2024. They admitted destroying Israeli military drones and equipment, causing an estimated £1.2 million in damage (The Bristol Cable). The group charged, known as the Filton 24 and now the Filton 25, has been tried in stages.
The first trial of six ran from November 2025 to 4 February 2026. All six were cleared of aggravated burglary, and three were cleared of violent disorder. The jury could not agree on criminal damage or the other violent disorder charges, which the prosecution later dropped.
The retrial on criminal damage ran from April to May 2026. Head, Kamio, Rajwani and Corner were convicted. Rogers and Devlin were acquitted, even though all six had admitted damaging the drones. Corner was cleared of grievous bodily harm with intent to a police officer but convicted by majority of grievous bodily harm without intent.
On 12 June 2026, Mr Justice Johnson ruled that the offences had a "terrorist connection", the first time this has been applied to criminal damage in the UK. Head and Kamio were sentenced to 6 years less 45 days, Rajwani to 5 years 8 months less 45 days, and Corner to 8 years 8 months including the grievous bodily harm sentence. All must serve at least two-thirds before parole. In August 2026, the jury in a trial of seven alleged organisers was discharged after more than 37 hours without reaching a verdict on any charge. In September 2026, the four sentenced were seeking permission to appeal, arguing the sentences are "manifestly excessive" (Novara Media).
Show the data
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Samuel Corner (incl. GBH sentence) | 8y 8m | |
| Charlotte Head | 6y less 45 days | |
| Leona Kamio | 6y less 45 days | |
| Fatema Zainab Rajwani | 5y 8m less 45 days |
#What did the Filton judge and juries decide?
The judge made the "terrorist connection" finding at sentencing. At Filton, the jury was not told the finding was possible until after its verdict (Novara Media).
At the retrial, the judge barred the defendants from explaining their motives, including the genocide in Gaza or Elbit's role (Socialist Worker; openDemocracy).
In the first trial, juries cleared all six of aggravated burglary and three of violent disorder. At the retrial, two of the six were acquitted even though all six had admitted damaging the drones.
The damage cost figures explain why the Brize Norton repair costs are disputed, and the case timeline lists the key dates.
Questions and answers
What happened at the Filton trials?
The defendants admitted damaging Israeli military drones at an Elbit Systems site near Bristol in August 2024. The first trial cleared all six of aggravated burglary but could not agree on criminal damage. At a retrial in April and May 2026, four were convicted of criminal damage, and the judge made a 'terrorist connection' finding at sentencing in June.
How is the Filton case different from Brize Norton?
Filton involved an Elbit Systems site and drones, with damage estimated at £1.2 million. The Brize Norton case involves two RAF Voyager planes, with contested repair costs, and charges under the National Security Act 2023. The trial is due in January 2027.
What is a 'terrorist connection' finding?
It is a finding by the judge at sentencing that an offence had a terrorist connection, which increases the sentence. The prosecution says the Brize Norton offences have such a connection, but no verdict has been reached there.
Sources
- First Filton 25 defendants sentenced as terrorists
- In landmark case, UK judge sentences pro-Palestine activists as terrorists
- Palestine Action prisoners to appeal 'terrorist' sentences
- How much damage did Palestine Action really do at Brize Norton?
- Four face 2027 trial over alleged Palestine Action aircraft damage
