UK Police Charge Co-founder of Palestine Action Under Terrorism Act

Richard Barnard is accused of expressing support for Hamas and has been charged with two counts of criminal damage

The co-founder of Palestine Action has been charged with violating the Terrorism Act after a series of speeches in Manchester and Bradford. 

Richard Barnard stands accused of “expressing an opinion that is supportive of a proscribed organisation contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000”.

Barnard, 41, will appear before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 September, where he also faces two charges of encouraging or intending to encourage criminal damage. 

The charges stem from an investigation by the specialised Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) unit into a demonstration held on 8 October in Manchester after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel. 

Police have accused Barnard of expressing an opinion or belief in support of a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas, and of encouraging criminal damage. 

He also faces an additional charge of encouraging criminal damage for a speech he delivered in Bradford.

Elbit raid

On the same day Barnard was charged, counterterrorism police raided the home of another Palestine Action activist suspected of involvement in a breach at an Elbit Systems research facility.

Last month, police arrested 10 activists who participated in the raid on a factory in Bristol, detaining them without charge under the Terrorism Act. They were later charged with non-terror offences and remanded to prison. 

Palestine Action has targeted various Elbit sites across the UK, including factories in Leicester, Oldham and Shenstone, as well as the company’s headquarters in London.

The group employs direct action tactics to disrupt operations and draw attention to Elbit’s role in supplying arms to Israel.

Their typical protests involve occupying factory rooftops, smashing windows, spraying red paint to symbolise bloodshed and shutting down equipment to interrupt the production of military technologies.

Elbit’s weapons have been used in conflicts with Palestinians, including in the ongoing war in Gaza, where Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Elbit supplies 85 percent of Israel’s military drones and land-based equipment. It also exports drones, aircraft components, electronics and other military systems to Britain. 

C. MEE