FIVE Palestine Action activists were acquitted at Sevenoaks magisrates’ court today over actions to halt the production of Israeli weapons in Kent.

In April last year, activists secured themselves to lock-on devices to prevent entry to Instro’s Discovery Park, owned by Israel’s largest weapons firm Elbit Systems, halting operations at the premises. 

The activists were charged with “locking on” or “being equipped for locking on” — new offences under the Public Order Act 2023.