Five activists face terrorist label for Barclays protest

Five activists convicted of criminal damage during a 2024 protest at a Barclays bank in Burnley, England, could be sentenced as terrorists in a move that human rights groups warn marks a dangerous expansion of UK counterterrorism laws. The five individuals-Brendon O’Hagan, Amanda Kelly, Hmeera Atiqnisar, Mohammed Malik, and Alma Yaniv-were found guilty in June 2026 of causing approximately £212,000 in damage by smashing windows and spraying red paint at the branch in August 2024. They targeted the bank in the name of the group Palestine Action, protesting Barclays’ financial ties to Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.

Following the convictions, Judge Philip Parry informed lawyers he was considering whether to designate the offenses as having a “terrorist connection.” This possibility was not presented to the jury during the trial, nor were the defendants informed it was under consideration until after their guilty verdicts. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has since argued for the terrorism designation, stating that evidence presented during the trial-including defendants’ affiliations with Palestine Action and statements that the protest was part of a wider campaign...