13/09/24
BBC writer accused of Palestine Action 'attack' on Israeli defence firm's UK facility
A BBC scriptwriter is among ten Palestine Action activists who are accused of storming the headquarters of a Israeli-based defence firm in an alleged armed protest.
Will-Nyerere Plastow, 33, faces charges of criminal damage and aggravated burglary over an alleged break-in at the Elbit Systems UK factory near Bristol on August 6.
He is charged alongside fellow activists Samuel Corner, 22, Leona Kamio, 28, Hannah Davidson, 51, Charlotte Head, 28, Zoe Rogers, 20, Jordan Devlin, 30, Fatama Rajwani, 20, Ian Sanders, 45, and Madeline Norman, 29.
Charges were brought after a re-purposed prison van was used to ram through the gates of the Elbit facility at around 3.30am, before being used to smash into one of the buildings inside.
It is said two groups of Palestine Action activists were involved in the raid, causing an estimated £1 million in damages.
It is said fireworks and flares were let off, and the activists are accused of being armed with axes, whips, hammers, and a fire extinguisher filled with red paint.
Police officers and security guards allegedly came under attack during the prolonged occupation of the site.
Plastow, of Highcroft Avenue in Manchester, is a Cambridge graduate who works as a scriptwriter and has credits for Casualty and Doctors on his CV.
He appeared with co-defendants via videolink from HMP Wormwood Scrubs for a preliminary hearing before Mr Justice Jeremy Baker on Friday.
The Old Bailey heard the defendants will be remanded in custody until a plea hearing on January 17 next year.
A trial has been set for November 17 next year, at Woolwich crown court.
Devlin, of Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, Head, a domestic abuse advocate of White Ash Glade, Caerleon, Newport, Kamio, of Clifden Road, Hackney, Rajwani, a third-year media studies student of Commonside, East Mitcham, Norman, of Wester Drylaw Drive, Edinburgh, and Rogers, of Selborne Road, Southgate, are all accused of criminal damage, violent disorder, and aggravated burglary.
Corner, of Rock Hill, Georgeham, Devon, faces the same charges, as well as assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Davidson, of Calder Gardens, Edinburgh, Sanders, of Regent Place, Royal Leamington Spa, and Plastow, are all charged with criminal damage and aggravated burglary.
None of the defendants have formally entered any pleas.
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