Elbit HQ suspect is Labour oﬃcial - The Jewish Chronicle

A Labour Party official is among five suspects charged over a paint attack on an Israeli defence firm, the JC can reveal.

Anthony Bardos, 56, was allegedly part of a pro-Palestinian gang that spray-painted the London HQ of Elbit Systems on October 10 last year.

Photos of the incident showed red paint left at the entrance of 77 Kingsway in Holborn.

Mr Bardos is currently treasurer of Labour’s Reading District, where Shadow Pensions Minister Matt Rodda serves as an MP.

Highbury Corner Magistrates heard details of the allegations facing Mr Bardos during a hearing on 9 March.

Damla Ayas, prosecuting, told the court: “Protest groups have attended and occupied the roof of the factory building of Elbit.

“There were spray-fire extinguishers filled with red paint and they were carrying tubs filled with red paint. It has caused criminal damage to the building in question.”

When he was approached by the JC about the case in Reading earlier this week, Mr Bardos closed the door and refused to comment.

According to Reading Labour’s website, his duties as Treasurer include making sure the party meets its legal and financial responsibilities under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, including donation reporting and filing of accounts.

It is not known if his position within Labour is at risk in the light of the ongoing case.

Repeated calls and emails to local and national Labour Party offices this week went unanswered.

Elbit has around ten sites across the UK and is reportedly Israel’s largest private arms firm. It was behind the development of the Hermes 900 drone used by Israel in the 2014 Gaza War.

According to an online profile, Mr Bardos graduated from the University of Reading in 2006 with a PhD in engineering, before later serving on the Berkshire Committee of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Charged alongside Mr Bardos over the Elbit attack are Doone Stormonth Darling, of Lambeth, south London, 26; Flora Thomas, 26, of Frome, Somerset; Joley Thomas, 29, of Edmonton, north London; and Jocelyn Cooney, 25, of Charlton, south-east London.

Media reports have described Stormonth Darling’s family as “aristocratic”, reporting that they live on a vast estate in Perthshire.

All members of the group face one count of criminal damage to ‘property and clothing’ valued under £5,000 and a further count of conspiracy to destroy or damage such property. They will appear again at Southwark Crown Court on 2 April.

Fiona Sharpe, spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism (LAAS) said: “The alleged presence and participation by a Labour Party official is sadly unsurprising and if found guilty Anthony Bardos should face immediate expulsion.”