SEVEN PROTESTERS FACE TERROR SENTENCING OVER TURNBERRY PAINT ATTACK

Seven protesters charged with damaging Donald Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland face potential sentencing under terror legislation, according to reports, despite none being charged with terror offences. The Palestine Action activists sprayed red paint on the clubhouse at the 800-acre resort on 8 March 2025 and painted the words "Gaza is not for sale" on the greens. The prosecution intends to establish a "terror connection" to enable terror sentences to be imposed, according to an indictment seen by multiple news organisations. The first hearing will take place on 31 August in the High Court in Glasgow.

The protest occurred before Palestine Action was proscribed as a terror organisation by the UK Government. The activists stated the action was taken in response to the US administration's plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza. Trump responded to the incident on his Truth Social platform, saying he had been informed by then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer that those responsible had been caught and would "hopefully be treated harshly". Trump's statement said three people involved were in prison. Questions have emerged about whether Trump exerted pressure on Starmer to proscribe Palestine Action following the protest, with judicial review proceedings revealing the two men held phone calls after the Turnberry action.

In June, four Palestine Action protesters were convicted of criminal damage following a separate protest at an Israeli arms firm's premises in England and received sentences characterised as terror sentences. Trump's administration announced its own ban on Palestine Action as a global terror group in the same week as the Scottish court hearing date was set.