Group denies causing a £1 Million of damage in alleged Palestine Action attack
Eight defendants pleaded not guilty to several charges including criminal damage to property
A group of men and women have pleaded not guilty to causing £1 million damage at a factory in Kent allegedly targeted by protest group Palestine Action.
Activists allegedly filmed themselves breaking into Instro Precision in Sandwich in the early hours of June 17 2024, throwing stock to the ground and smashing computers with a crowbar.
On Friday, nine defendants appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.
All but one of the defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage to property, aggravated burglary with intent, and violent disorder.
They are: Nasser Akhtar, 37, of Crystal Palace; Elliot Wilson, 25 from Liverpool; Maximillian Dixon, 29, of Brockley, south-east London; Nirad Abrol, 25, of Birmingham; Seirol Davies, 30, from Plymouth; Xavi Davies, 21, of Binfield, Berkshire; Eoin O'Meara, 34 of Bristol, Hannah Davidson, 52, of Edinburgh.
A ninth defendant, Julija Brigadirova, 32, from Manchester, was not asked to enter pleas to the same charges.
The charge alleges that on June 17 2024 they "without lawful excuse destroyed or damaged property to a value estimated to be over £1 million belonging to Instro Precision Limited, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged".
On the same date it is alleged the defendants trespassed on Instro Precision Limited "with intent to do unlawful damage to the said building or anything therein and at the time of committing the said burglary had with you a weapon of offence".
It is further alleged on June 6 last year they "threatened unlawful violence" that would "cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his or her personal safety".
The defendants face an eight-week trial from October 5 2026 at the Old Bailey.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb adjourned the preparatory hearing until February 13.
All the defendants are on bail except Davidson and Brigadirova who appeared by videolink from prison.