BACKGROUND

On 6 August 2024, after witnessing a live streamed genocide, 6 activists took direct action at Elbit Systems factory in Filton, Bristol. The factory is known as a research and development hub but it is in fact a site that produces weapons to be used by the Israeli army on Palestinians in Gaza. The 6 activists dismantled weapons, including quadcopters that have been used in the genocide in Gaza. This drone shoots out 8 lethal pellets designed to seriously maim or kill those it targets. 

The campaign started as the Filton6, and grew to become the Filton25 as activists were arrested and detained by counter terrorism police, following violent dawn raids which traumatised families and loved ones. They were charged with aggravated burglary, violent disorder and criminal damage. All 25 were held on remand in prisons across the UK. 

​The Filton25 case is an assault on pro-Palestine activists and marks a significant escalation by the British state in defence of Israel. Terrorism legislation leads to an abuse of due process and undermines the people's fundamental rights under the guise of national security. Despite the use of terrorism powers in the case of the Filton25, they have not been charged under terrorism legislation but through backdoor legal provisions. However, the Crown Prosecution Service is attempting to secure harsh terror related sentences for the Filton25's alleged offences even though the offences would never meet the threshold to be charged under terrorism. 

​The first 6 who were inside the factory and admitted to destroying weapons were tried in November 2025 where the jury failed to convict them of any offence and they and the rest of their co-defendants were all acquitted on the most serious charge of aggravated burglary. This resulted in the freedom of 5 of the 6 activists, as well as the freedom of their co-defendants. In April 2026 the 6 were re-tried, with severe restrictions placed by the Judge on what they could tell the jury about why they took action. 4 of them were found guilty of criminal damage and the judge arbitrarily remanded them back into custody against the recommendation made by the CPS.  

Judge Johnson denied them any legal defences to explain why they were forced to take direct action. He also prevented them from mentioning the genocide in Gaza and what Elbit Systems produces in their UK based weapons factories. He accepted that Yvette Cooper had willfully breached his rulings and was in contempt of court, but failed to take any action against her. Contrastingly, he referred the lead KC on the case to the High court for alleged contempt of court for his closing speech on the jury’s right to acquit based on their conscience. The Judge also withheld important information from the jury and directed them to find the activists guilty.

On the 12th of June 2026, the 4 activists are set to be sentenced and the prosecution are arguing that there is a terrorism connection in order to secure a longer sentence against the activists and ongoing and long term state surveillance. 

Take action today and write to demand Judge Johnson recuses himself from the case immediately.