The Filton 24 (18 shown)

In August 2024, six activists allegedly drove a modified prison van into Elbit's research, development and manufacturing hub in Filton, Bristol. Once inside, the six allegedly 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 £1 million in damage. Elbit Systems is one of Israel's largest arms manufacturers and its British subsidiary, Elbit Systems UK, operates 16 sites across the country.

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 2024, there were further raids, with anti-terror laws once again being misused, and eight more activists were subsequently remanded in custody in relation to the same Filton action, taking the total to 18. Finally in July 2025, a further six people were arrested and remanded in prison for the same action. The Free Filton24 say: "All were denied bail and some of our loved ones have been in prison for over a year awaiting trial. Most face nearly TWO YEARS in prison before they come to trial. [1]" These are now the Filton 24.

In a report on November 10 in The Electronic Intifada [2], Abubaker Abed, a journalist from Deir al-Balah refugee camp in Gaza, reported that one of the Filton 24, Sean Middlebrough, who was arrested by British police in January 2024, "has absconded from a UK prison after being released on temporary bail for his brother's wedding". In a statement exclusive to The Electronic Intifada, Middlebrough said that "he was not a terrorist and should never have been imprisoned in the first place".

Protest outside an Elbit Systems arms factory - Photo: WRP

Sean Middlebrough, whose trial date is set for April 2026 and had already spent a year in pre-trial detention, was facing a total of over 18 months on remand, far exceeding the six-month pre-trial custody time limit. "I am not on the run. I am merely being sensible, refusing to be held as a prisoner of war of Israel in a British prison," Middlebrough said in a statement obtained and verified by The Electronic Intifada. "Outrageously, 23 of my heroic and honourable co-defendants remain in prison following our kidnapping by counter-terrorism police."

In addition, it should be pointed out, their arrests were long before Palestine Action was declared by the government as a "terrorist organisation" in the UK. Without reference to any known legal procedures, the Filton 24 political prisoners have reportedly been reclassified as "terrorists" in prison, which has resulted in their rights being further denied.

It is also reported in The Canary that Teuta Hoxha from the Palestine Action Filton 24, who was arrested for taking action against genocide, has now, "because of the government's abuse of counter-terrorism powers, [...] been held in prison without trial for the last nine months, and has been on hunger strike since August 11 as a protest against the denial of her basic rights. She says herself and her Palestine Action co-defendants are being monitored under the Counter Extremism Unit. [3]"

Reports say that six imprisoned Palestine Action campaigners have also been on hunger strike since November 2, the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, which saw the British empire launch this colonial plan as their gateway to control West Asia with the oppression of the Palestinians, and support for Israeli Zionist crimes, terrorism and genocide against the Palestinian people in their own land.

Free The Filton24 say, "This is not just about our loved ones. It is about stopping UK complicity in war crimes against Palestinians and upholding the rights and freedoms of everyone in this country." To stay in touch, support the petition and contribute go to:
https://freethefilton23.com/support-us/

Stand with Palestine! Stand with the Resistance!

Notes
1. Free The Filton24
24 UK Activists Are In Prison Without Trial For Opposing Genocide
We are the family and friends of the Filton24, all imprisoned for alleged damage of weapons in an Israeli arms factory in England.
https://freethefilton23.com/
2. Exclusive: Absconded activist refuses to be "prisoner of war", The Electronic Intifada, November 10, 2025
https://electronicintifada.net/content/exclusive-absconded-activist-refuses-be-prisoner-war/51056
3. Filton 24 hunger striker tells The Canary government is monitoring her under counter extremism
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/09/01/filton-24-prisoner/

On Sunday, October 26, the Irish community in London, together with friends, gathered outside Brixton Prison for the annual Terence MacSwiney Commemoration. This year's gathering marked 105 years since the death of the Lord Mayor of Cork, after 74 days on hunger-strike, and was once again organised by the Terence MacSwiney Committee [London].

Terence MacSwiney in his Mayoral robes

Committee Chair Frank Glynn welcomed the approximately 60 people gathered outside the south London prison. The day's keynote speaker was Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD (member of the Irish parliament) for Cork North-Central, who delivered a powerful address that appealed to the solidarity and internationalism of those living in London to support the campaign to build a new and united Ireland.

Drawing inspiration from the example of Terence MacSwiney, Gould extended solidarity to the suffering people of Palestine amidst the ongoing occupation of their land and Israel's genocidal war. He appealed for class unity at this time, noting that the establishment and those in power are desperately seeking to turn poor people against one another. He equally paid tribute to those Irishmen and women who were forced to leave their country over the past decades, assuring them that their sacrifice is not forgotten back home.

The commemoration also heard from Pat Reynolds of the Irish in Britain Representation Group (IBRG); Pam Blakelock, who spoke about her husband's descendance from Muriel MacSwiney (Terence MacSwiney's widow); and the Palestinian activist, Samar Maquishi, who spoke about the unwavering support of the Irish people for the cause of Palestine. As Samar observed, "Even if the whole world was quiet, the Irish won't be silenced!"

Longstanding London-based Irish republican Denis Grace read the Proclamation of Easter Week 1916 on behalf of the Commemoration Committee. Music was provided by the stalwart London-Irish balladeer Seán Brady and Achill Island's own Tom Lynch on the Uilleann Pipes. Special mention was also made of the election of Catherine Connolly as the next President of Ireland. There was overwhelming support expressed for Ms Connolly, whose campaign was supported by a broad range of left-wing and progressive forces in Ireland, particularly as a candidate who placed voting rights for Irish citizens outside of the twenty-six-county state and the ongoing struggle for Irish reunification at the centre of her election platform.

(The above is an edited version of the press statement issued by the Terence MacSwiney Committee [London]. Source: Friends of Socialist China)

"Principles of Freedom", published in 1921 (photo shows the 1970 edition)


(Above) Two handbills of the time, showing the mass support for Terence MacSwiney and his hunger strike;
(Right) Banner commemorating Terence MacSwiney at the demonstration, with quotation from H? Chí Minh