Fiona Robertson prosecuted a pro-Palestine activist convicted of a series of targeted attacks at properties in Norwich. The defendant planted improvised incendiary devices containing thermite at properties alleged to have links to Israel and stuck posters referring to Palestine, Gaza and detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya to the properties. Although the devices were incapable of exploding, they were set alight causing a pyrotechnic effect which damaged the properties – in one case thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to a listed building in Norwich city centre.
The defendant denied being responsible for the attacks and it was suggested her views on Palestine were common and many others should, therefore, have been considered as suspects.
However, the evidence showed that the defendant’s finger prints were at three of the scenes and that she had ordered kilogram quantities of aluminium powder and iron oxide – the two compounds used to make thermite – in the months prior to the attack. When police searched her home these items were not recovered but bags and a funnel contaminated with thermite were recovered as well as the different components to make the improvised incendiary devices. The police also found a kit containing different compounds for making a second explosive substance, black powder.
The defendant was acquitted of attempting to cause an explosion after the experts agreed the compound used by the defendant could not be made to explode. She was, however, convicted after trial of five counts of criminal damage for each of the attacks as well as making an explosive substance with intent to cause serious injury to property for the thermite at her home address and making an explosive substance for the components of black powder found at her home address.
The defendant is due to be sentenced in October 2026.
The case has been reported in the national press:
Fiona Robertson