Pro-Palestine protesters who brought about £1m of harm jailed
- The group of activists set off smoke bombs during the protests
A group of Pro-Palestinian protesters who caused over £1 million of damages at a weapons factory were jailed for a total of five years and two months.
This comes after Stuart Bretherton, 25, Eva Simmons, 25, Calum Lacy, 23, Erica Hygate, 23 and Sumaya Javaid, 22, scaled the Thales UK building in Glasgow‘s Govan on June 1 2022 and staged a demonstration on its roof.
The five protestors unfurled banners and erected flags and ignited pyrotechnics.
The building had its fire alarm activated after Hygate and Javaid entered the building and threw a smoke bomb into the area where staff were being evacuated.
Two of the protestors remained at the building overnight and glued themselves to the roof after refusing to engage with police.
Activists occupy the roof of the Thales UK arms factory on June 1, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland
The French-based Thales, one of the world’s largest suppliers of military weapons, was targeted by activists with Palestine Action Scotland because of its work with Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems on the Watchkeeper Drone project, according to published reports
A total of £1,130,783 of damage was caused and the premises were shut due to safety concerns.
Bretherton, of Kilmacolm, Inverclyde, Simmons, of London, Lacy of Edinburgh as well as Hygate and Javaid of Birmingham, pleaded guilty to conducting themselves in a disorderly manner.
Hygate separately pleaded guilty to a vandalism charge, while Javaid also pleaded to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
All but Javaid received 12 month sentences while she was jailed for 14 months.
A total of six police officers and five security staff were in the courtroom.
Some of the protestors and members of the public gallery were emotional after the sheriff gave his verdict.
This was followed by shouts of ‘You are preventing genocide’ and a repeated chant of ‘Free, free Palestine’ as all five were led into custody.
Sheriff John McCormick said: ‘At 6.25am, police saw you in the perimeter dressed in orange or red overalls, some had rucksacks and balaclavas.
The group of Pro-Palestinian protesters who caused over £1 million of damages at a weapons factory were jailed for a total of five years and two months
‘Police saw you quickly scale the fence using ladders which you discarded.
‘You were confined to the roof of the main building, you attempted to climb on a derelict water tower and beckoned others.
‘You unfurled banners and unveiled flags. Palestinian protestors gathered adjacent to the site and showed support for you.
‘Multiple police resources arrived and were positioned around the building.
‘Miss Hygate and Miss Javaid entered the building through the roof and caused damage including to parts essential to submarines.
‘Fire alarms were activated which caused an evacuation and confusion as well as panic among staff.
‘You set off pyrotechnics and smoke bombs – some thrown in the area where staff where evacuated.
‘The smoke was dangerously close to the members of staff.
‘Mr Bretheron, Miss Simmons and Mr Lacy were seen to mov back and forth on the rooftop. They were seen to gather their belongings and stated their intention was to climb down a ladder.
‘Miss Hygate and Miss Javaid of you refused to desist and remained overnight after refusing to engage with a police liaison.
‘You glued your hands to the edge of the roof and remained there until officers were able to take your hands away.
‘Miss Javaid was obstructive and required leg restraints.
‘The court has to have regard to the major impact this had – the impact on employees as well as police and emergency services resources.
‘A total of 20 constables, one inspector and two sergeants were there over two days or four shifts.
‘The premises were shut due to safety concerns and disrupting business activities which included matters of nationwide security.
‘The damage caused cost £1,130,783 which does not include the cost to the public purse, police or emergency service personnel.’
The sheriff stated that in one background report, one of the protestors claimed that their actions were non violent.
He responded: ‘Throwing pyrotechnics at areas where people are being evacuated to cannot be described as non violent.’
The sheriff told all five that they were ‘young and intelligent’ and that everyone had the right to lawful protest.
However, Sheriff McCormick added: ‘You expressed a high level of regret to your actions and I give weight to that.
‘Due to the gravity and the consequences, there is no suitable alternative to custody.’
Bretherton had recently set up a fundraiser for help with his legal fees ahead of his trial, and thanked his supporters after achieving his target of £5000.
‘With our trial beginning in just over a fortnight, I’m preparing for the mental challenge of the process. And hoping I can do justice to myself and those impacted by Thales’ destruction’, he wrote.
He also said that: ‘Israel’s assault on Gaza has continued to escalate with our political leaders complicit in war crimes by continuing to supply the military. But signs are emerging of our international pressure being felt and achieving the demand of a proper ceasefire.’
