Trial collapses in raid on Israel-linked defence firm site

Summarised from BBC Bristol's report · Updated 5 Nov, 22:04 · Archive

A trial of five people accused of raiding an Elbit Systems UK factory in Bristol has ended after the jury was dismissed.

A trial of five people accused of raiding an Elbit Systems UK factory near Bristol in August 2024 has ended after the jury was dismissed. Qesser Zuhrah, 21, Zahra Farooque, 26, Kamran Ahmed, 29, Heba Muraisi, 31 - all from London - and Liam Mullany, 34, from Poole, were charged with criminal damage and violent disorder, which they denied.

Judge Lees discharged the jury on Wednesday, a month after the trial opened at Woolwich Crown Court. The Crown Prosecution Service told the BBC it would seek a retrial. An administrative hearing to discuss next steps was set for 18 November at Woolwich Crown Court. Elbit Systems UK has consistently denied supplying the Israeli army with weapons.

Read the report

• Elbit raid trial collapses as jury dismissedThe Crown Prosecution Service says it will be seeking a retrial following a raid in Bristol.BBC Bristol · 5 Nov, 16:49

In this story: Qesser Zuhrah · Zahra Farooque · Kamran Ahmed · Heba Muraisi · Liam Mullany · Elbit Systems UK Ltd · Bristol · Woolwich Crown Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log