A Palestine Action activist who was acquitted over a protest at an Israeli arms manufacturer’s UK site has said he and his five co-defendants “did the right thing”.

Four of those who stood trial with Jordan Devlin were convicted of criminal damage in relation to the direct action protest at the Elbit Systems UK site near Bristol on 6 August 2024, but he said they had been acting to save Palestinian lives.

The 31-year-old from County Antrim, Northern Ireland described smashing up equipment including drones as a “fantastic feeling”. He said: “I don’t regret signing up to this action because I’m very acutely aware I was quantifiably saving lives.…