London, 18 October (H.S.): Eight individuals have entered not guilty pleas at the Old Bailey to charges of causing an estimated £1 million in damages at a defense manufacturing facility in Kent. The defendants are accused of unlawfully entering the Instro Precision factory in Sandwich in June, where they allegedly smashed computers with crowbars and destroyed stock.

The prosecution alleges the incident occurred during a protest in support of Palestine Action, a group that was subsequently proscribed as a terrorist organization by the British government in July 2025. The eight defendants each face three charges: criminal damage, violent disorder, and burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage.

The accused who pleaded not guilty are:Nasser Akhtar, 37, of Crystal PalaceElliot Wilson, 25, of LiverpoolMaximillian Dixon, 29, of Brockley, south-east LondonNirad Abrol, 25, of BirminghamSeirol Davies, 30, of PlymouthXavi Davies, 21, of Binfield, BerkshireEoin O’Meara, 34, of BristolHannah Davidson, 52, of Edinburgh.A ninth defendant, Julija Brigadirova, 32, from Manchester, did not enter a plea.

Seven of the defendants appeared in the dock, while two others participated via video link from prison. Presiding over the proceedings was Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. An eight-week trial has been provisionally scheduled to begin in October 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar