Full Analysis Summary
Bail for Filton activists
Twelve activists linked to Palestine Action were granted bail at an Old Bailey hearing on 20 February after being held over a raid on the Elbit Systems factory in Filton, near Bristol.
Among those released were four hunger strikers — Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, Qesser Zuhrah and Heba Muraisi — who had mounted a prolonged refusal of food as part of protests against lengthy pre-trial detention and to press for the closure of Elbit's UK operations.
The group are part of the so-called Filton 24, accused of raiding the facility in 2024.
The most serious charge of aggravated burglary was found not proven for the group.
Coverage Differences
Narrative framing
Novara Media (Western Alternative) foregrounds the hunger strike demand and explicitly links the protest to calls to close Elbit Systems’ UK operations, framing bail as a victory for those campaigning against Elbit. The News Line (Other) reports the bail and lists prison locations and detention timelines, emphasising the scale of pre-trial detention and public protest outside court. Al Jazeera (West Asian) highlights the emotional release at the Old Bailey and quotes the Filton 24 Defence Committee calling the release a “monumental victory,” while also placing the bail in the wider legal context of Woolwich acquittals. These sources thus differ in emphasis — activist goals (Novara), protest and detention detail (The News Line), and courtroom/committee reaction (Al Jazeera).
Filton 24 bail outcomes
The bail decisions followed jury acquittals on the most serious count of aggravated burglary and the dropping of aggravated burglary charges against other members of the Filton 24.
Juries rejected the prosecution’s contention that defendants intended to use carried items as weapons.
Juries also rejected that defendants acted on a joint-enterprise basis, undermining the state’s case on the highest charge and prompting releases and dropped charges for many defendants.
Coverage Differences
Legal emphasis
The News Line (Other) provides the most detailed account of the jury’s reasoning, reporting that juries ‘rejected the prosecution’s claim that the defendants intended to use carried items as weapons or acted on a joint-enterprise basis.’ Al Jazeera (West Asian) situates bail within a sequence of Woolwich acquittals and subsequent drops of aggravated burglary charges for remaining members, while Novara Media (Western Alternative) notes the group was ‘found not guilty of the most serious charge, aggravated burglary’ but focuses less on jury reasoning.
Protest outside Old Bailey
Outside the Old Bailey, around 100 supporters gathered to welcome the decisions and to protest what they said were heavy-handed prosecutions and lengthy pre-trial detention.
Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Shut Elbit Systems down," and speakers at the rally linked actions against Elbit to opposition to alleged war crimes in Gaza, arguing that citizens had a duty to oppose complicity.
Campaigners and the Filton 24 Defence Committee described the bail releases as victories for solidarity and legal campaign pressure.
Coverage Differences
Tone
The News Line (Other) presents the protest scene in vivid, political terms — quoting chants and explicitly reporting speakers saying citizens must oppose ‘complicity in alleged war crimes.’ Novara Media (Western Alternative) highlights activists’ aims such as the demand to ‘call for the closure of Elbit Systems’ UK operations’ and the hunger strike as a tactic for release. Al Jazeera (West Asian) reports on the emotional reaction and the Defence Committee’s statement, but frames the event with more courtroom and legal context rather than activist slogans.
Remand status of defendants
All three sources note that one defendant is still in custody on remand.
Al Jazeera and The News Line both identify Samuel Corner as the only member still on remand and report that he did not apply for bail at the hearing.
The News Line also notes that Hannah Davidson remains detained on a separate matter.
Campaigners have said continued remand after lengthy detention is unjust, a point raised by the Filton 24 Defence Committee in Al Jazeera’s reporting.
Coverage Differences
Missed information
Novara Media (Western Alternative) is concise on outstanding detentions, saying ‘all but one of them are now out on bail,’ without naming who remains detained. The News Line (Other) names Samuel Corner as still on remand and additionally notes Hannah Davidson ‘remains detained on a separate matter.’ Al Jazeera (West Asian) names Samuel Corner and reports that he ‘did not apply for bail’ and that the defence committee calls his continued custody unjust after long detention — emphasising the defence perspective.