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Three more charged after ram-raid at defence firm

Palestine Action A screenshot of the police van seen on the Elbit Systems UK site. The van is a large white vehicle with small windows and a chevron pattern across the back. A figure wearing black with a white helmet can be seen in the lower right corner of the image holding a long unidentified object. Palestine Action
Police said a group of people forced their way into the building, using a vehicle to smash through the doors

Three more people have been charged after an apparent ram-raid at a defence technology firm.

Members of the campaign group, Palestine Action, allegedly used a vehicle to ram the entrance of the Bristol HQ of Elbit Systems on Bolingbroke Way in Patchway, Bristol, shortly before 04:00 BST on 6 August.

Employees at the premises were "seriously assaulted" and "extensive damage" was done to the building, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) said.

The trio have been jointly charged with criminal damage and aggravated burglary.

Ian Sanders, 45, of Regent Place in Royal Leamington Spa, William Plastow, 33, of High Croft Avenue in Manchester and Madeline Norman, 29, of Wester Drylaw Drive in Edinburgh, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Ms Norman is also charged with violent disorder.

On Tuesday, seven other individuals who had previously been charged appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The defendants have all been remanded in custody and are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 13 September.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it would be submitting to the court that the offences have a "terrorist connection".

Avon and Somerset Police said on Tuesday it was “not aware of any wider risk to the local community in South Gloucestershire” and the incident was not connected with recent violent disorder seen across the UK.

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