Allianz, one of the leading insurance firms globally, has initiated legal action against six individuals linked to protests organized by Palestine Action that targeted the company.
The insurer is claiming nearly £300,000 in damages stemming from demonstrations held at its UK offices in October 2024 and March 2025. This lawsuit marks a significant civil case as it is reportedly the first of its kind directed at those accused of participating in protests associated with this activist group.
Palestine Action has consistently focused its efforts on Allianz due to its role in providing insurance for the UK branch of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer. During the protests central to this lawsuit, activists vandalized Allianz’s offices in Guildford, Surrey, and the City of London by splashing red paint on the buildings.
The group claims to have occupied the Guildford office during the October 2024 demonstration, with some protesters climbing the building while displaying a banner that read “Drop Elbit.” Notably, Allianz terminated its insurance contract with Elbit Systems UK last year.
The six individuals involved, who have been charged with various criminal offenses and have pleaded not guilty, are requesting that the civil case brought by Allianz be postponed until after their criminal trials. They assert that Allianz has declined this request.
An Allianz representative stated that the company does not comment on ongoing legal matters and acknowledges the right to lawful protest. However, they emphasized that they will not accept any intimidation, threats, or behaviors that compromise the safety and security of their employees, business, or property. The spokesperson added, “We reserve the right to pursue lawful actions, including civil claims against individuals, to seek compensation for damages incurred to our premises and operations.”
Seren John-Wood, a community worker aged 30 who faces charges of criminal damage alongside two other defendants related to the City of London protest, remarked, “This is an unprecedented and unusual extra step that is being conducted parallel to criminal proceedings. The burden of proof is significantly lower in civil courts. We believe that in a criminal court we will be found not guilty. In a civil court, they will have an extremely unfair advantage; we are unable to afford legal representation whereas, according to their own annual report, they made a record operating profit of €17.4bn (£15.1bn) last year. There is no legal aid available for civil courts.”
Another defendant, Anna Letts, a 44-year-old teacher involved in the same protest, expressed concern, stating, “We are individuals who work and volunteer with refugees and asylum seekers, in homelessness services, with children and young people and, like most working people in the UK, live paycheck to paycheck. Being forced to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds means decades of money being deducted from salaries that barely cover our rent as it is.”
George Elliott, a 29-year-old writer and performer facing charges of criminal damage, aggravated trespass, and being equipped to lock-on related to the Guildford protest, commented, “Allianz brought on its own reputational damage and embarrassment, as well as any other alleged harm to its business and/or employees, by opting to insure Elbit Systems.”
In February, the high court overturned a decision to classify Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act, ruling it unlawful. This ruling remains in effect while an appeal from the Home Secretary is pending, with hearings scheduled for April 28 and 29.
