Palestine activists deny causing damage worth £1m

Eight of the accused denied the criminal charges against them

Eight people have pleaded not guilty to causing £1m worth of damage during a break-in at a defence equipment manufacturing factory in Kent.

It is alleged that those charged were present at a protest in June supporting Palestine Action, before it was proscribed as a terrorist group.

Defendants unlawfully entered the factory in Sandwich, where crowbars were used to smash computers and throw stock to the ground, the prosecution says.

The accused each denied three charges of criminal damage, violent disorder and burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage.

The defendants are:

• Nasser Akhtar, 37, of Crystal Palace

• Elliot Wilson, 25, from Liverpool

• Maximillian Dixon, 29, of Brockley, south-east London

• Nirad Abrol, 25, of Birmingham

• Seirol Davies, 30, from Plymouth

• Xavi Davies, 21, of Binfield, Berkshire

• Eoin O'Meara, 34, of Bristol

• Hannah Davidson, 52, of Edinburgh

A ninth defendant, Julija Brigadirova, 32, from Manchester, was not asked to enter a plea.

Seven of the accused appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey, while two others – Hannah Davidson and Julija Brigadirova – appeared via video link from prison.

All listened intently as Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb conducted proceedings.

An eight-week trial has been provisionally scheduled for October next year.