THE FILTON 18

In August 2024, six Actionists drove a modified prison van into Elbit’s research, development, and manufacturing hub in Filton, Bristol. Once inside, the six dismantled Israeli weapons, including the same model of quadcopter drones used by the Israeli military to mimic the sounds of women and children crying, to lure Palestinians and kill them. The action allegedly cost Israel’s largest weapons firm over £1million in damage.

After the six were arrested at the scene, four more were rounded up by armed counter-terrorism police, in different parts of the country. All were remanded in prison. Whilst under arrest, each of the 10 were detained without charge for approximately a week and interrogated repeatedly under the Terrorism Act. Displaying the clear abuse of such powers, each was eventually charged with non-terror offences.

In November, there were further raids, with anti-terror laws once again being misused, and 8 more activists subsequently remanded in custody, in relation to the same Filton action, taking the total to 18.

Ian Sanders

Ian took action against Leicester’s Israeli weapons factory, by driving a van into the building, whilst others scaled the roof, and destroyed Elbit’s war-drones inside.

He was remanded for allegedly being connected to an action, which caused over £1million in damages to the Filton-based research hub of Israel’s biggest weapons producer, making him one of the Filton 10. Ian has been on remand since 16th August 2024.

To write to Ian, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Ian Sanders”

Zoë Rogers

Zoe was arrested inside Elbit’s Filton weapons hub on August 6th and has since been imprisoned before trial.

“I am honoured to be imprisoned in solidarity with thousands of Palestinian political prisoners. Down with the apartheid state!”

To write to Zoe, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Zoe Rogers”

Fatema Zainab (Ray) Rajwani

Fatema was remanded on 14th August 2024, after being arrested inside Elbit’s weapons hub. Ray is proud of their Indian heritage and East African roots. Fatema is currently enrolled to complete their final year of Media studies at university.

“We reject the business of imperialist murder that Britain profits from. The slaughter of Black and Brown bodies that the British arms trade facilitates must end. Long live Palestine.”

To write to Fatema Zainab (Ray) Rajwani, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Fatema Zainab (Ray) Rajwani”

Madeleine Norman

Madeleine’s involvement in taking direct action against Israel’s Elbit Systems goes back a couple of years. They previously ‘locked on’ in front of the gates of Elbit’s drone engine factory in Shenstone, shutting down the Israeli weapons maker, whilst displaying a banner which read “Free Ahmed Manasra“, who is a Palestinian prisoner held since the age of 13.

In January 2023, Madeleine scaled the roof of Leonardo’s Edinburgh factory, causing extensive damage to the producers of laser targeting systems for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets. During a dramatic police crackdown, they were accused of also being connected to the action against Elbit’s Filton research hub and is now one of the Filton 10.

Madeleine is currently being held in HMP Bronzefield and has been on remand since Friday 16th August.

To write to Madeleine, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Madeleine Norman”

Samuel Corner

Samuel is one of the #Filton10, and has been on remand since 14th August 2024 after he was arrested inside Elbit’s Filton site.

“This is what the British state does when you act on your moral duty to resist settler colonialism”

To write to Samuel, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Samuel Corner”

Jordan Devlin

Jordan was one of six people arrested at the Filton-based research and manufacturing hub of Israel’s biggest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. His group allegedly caused over £1million worth of damage. For trying to stop a Genocide he’s been detained in HMP Wormwood Scrubs, on remand, since 14th August 2024.

“I am taking action against Elbit, because the risk of months in prison pales in comparison to the despair suffered from witnessing the horrors they facilitate. The sense of wrong and right is black and white, in this instance, so I am honoured to take this opportunity in crafting a world I want to live in, to destroy completely the blatant evils in society we’ve all been lulled into ignoring.”

To write to Jordan, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Jordan Devlin”

William Plastow

During the ongoing Gaza Genocide, William drove a car into the bollards in front of Elbit’s Leicester weapons factory, and locked his neck to the steering wheel to prevent the Israeli drone maker from opening.

Several months later, he was unjustly detained, without charge, for a week, and repeatedly interrogated about alleged involvement in an action against Elbit’s new research and development hub in Filton, Bristol – making him one of the #Filton10.

To write to William, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Williiam Plastow”

Leona Kamio

Leona is one of the Filton 10, and has been in prison, on remand, since 14th August 2024.

“My heart is forever with the Palestinian people; my head is held high and my crowbar is in some Israeli apartheid weapon.”

To write to Leona, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Leona Kamio”

Charlotte Head

Lottie has been on remand since 14th August 2024, after she was arrested inside Elbit’s Filton site.

“My name is Lottie and I’ve been sent to prison for trying to stop an illegal and inhumane Genocide that is happening right now in Palestine. Myself and other activists took action to try and dismantle one of the arms manufacturers that is supporting Israel in this massacre. The police say what we did is illegal, but it is the British state that is acting illegally by allowing these war machines to operate and profit in our country. Free Palestine.”

To write to Charlotte, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Charlotte Head”

Hannah Davidson

In June 2024, Hannah broke into Kent’s Israeli weapons factory which was situated in a ‘highly secure’ compound. Once inside the Elbit arms plant, she, and others, caused over £1million in damages to machinery and weaponry. She was remanded, after being detained without charge, on allegations of being connected to the Filton action, which saw over £1million in damage caused to Elbit’s research centre for Israeli weapons. She is one of the Instro 7 and Filton 10.

To write to Hannah, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Hannah Davidson”

T

“I’m proud to be part of a movement who love the Palestinian people, and support their right to resist with such sincerity that risks are happily taken.”

Teuta, a graduate of English Literature from King’s College, Oxford, was arrested in the raids against Palestine activists on 19th November 2024, and held on remand since then. She has already had to spend her 29th birthday behind bars. Teuta previously blockaded the entrance of Elbit’s Bristol HQ, forcing the Israeli weapons maker to close, and soon after, she also disrupted Elbit-investor BNY Mellon’s office in Manchester.

To write to Teuta, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: T”

Sean Middlesborough

Sean, from Liverpool, was arrested on the 19^th November 2024, in the third wave of Filton arrests, and remanded in custody. A seasoned activist, he took action, in January 2022, to occupy the roof, and dismantle the drone factory at Shenstone, and was wrongly arrested in relation to an action in Newcastle, and an alleged conspiracy to shut down the London Stock Exchange. In the second 2 cases, charges were dropped, but only after Sean had already spent time locked-up on remand. His family, and his 7 year old son, Noah, miss him greatly.

To write to Sean, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Sean Middlesborough”

Aleksandra Herbich

Aleksandra has been in custody since 19th November 2024, when she was arrested by police using ‘anti-terrorist’ powers, and became one of the Filton 18.

To write to Aleksandra, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Aleksandra”

Aleksandra has been in custody since 19th November 2024, when she was arrested by police using ‘anti-terrorist’ powers, and became one of the Filton 18.

To write to Aleksandra, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Aleksandra”

Julija Brigadirova

Julija was arrested on by ‘counter-terrorist’ police on November 19th 2024, in the third wave of Filton arrests.

To write to Julija, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Julija”

Kamran Ahmed

Kamran was arrested in the police raids of 19th November 2024. While humble and camera-shy, he is passionate about the cause of the oppressed.

To write to Kamran, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Kamran”

“I am in prison for trying to stop a genocide. My freedom is predicated upon the extermination of others.”

– Actionist, Shipley4

THE thales 5

In June 2022, five actionists occupied the Thales weapons factory in Glasgow, and cost them over £1million. By doing so, they disrupted Scotland’s complicity with the colonisation of Palestine. On August 20th 2024, a Judge sentenced each of the actionists, bar one, to 12 months imprisonment, with the other being sentenced to 14 months. Apart from Calum Lacy, they were released early, into the community, on electronic tag.

Calum Lacy

Calum is serving a 12 month sentence. He is originally from San Francisco, and before his arrest, he lived in Edinburgh for four years, where he began his activist career by campaigning on behalf of the staff and students of Edinburgh University.

From prison, he says that he doesn’t regret his action, and remains a proud part of the global intifada.

To write to Calum, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Calum”

I have brought the intifada into the prison and the struggle contiunes. Free the prisoners. Free Palestine.

– Fran, Teledyne4

THE Teledyne4 and barclays7

On the morning of the 27th June 2024, Leeds city centre branches of Barclay’s and JP Morgan, both of
whom invest in Israel’s biggest weapons firm, Elbit Systems, were targeted. Seven people were
subsequently arrested. Six of the Barclay’s 7 were released on bail, while Francesca Nadin, (below), was
remanded in prison.

Francesca Nadin

Francesca has been on remand since 27th June 2024 and is currently imprisoned in HMP New Hall. She has released several statements during her imprisonment and has written a public letter for the Electronic Intifada: https://electronicintifada.net/content/letter-jailed-palestine-activist/48686

To write to Francesca, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Francesca Nadin”

THE ferranti3

The #Ferranti3 took direct action to occupy Oldham’s Israeli weapons factory. Two of the actionists, of Pakistani Kashmiri descent, entered the factory to destroy their weaponry from within.

Shaby Aziz

Of Pakistani Kashmiri descent, Shaby was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment on 13th December 2024. He was the only one of the Ferranti 3 to receive a custodial sentence.

To write to Shaby, send an email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com,

with the subject heading “FAO: Shaby Aziz”