Police Hunt for Activist Who Skipped Bail
Authorities are searching for Sean Middleborough, a 32-year-old Palestine Action activist from Liverpool, who has allegedly gone on the run after failing to return to prison following temporary bail. Middleborough had been held on remand at HMP Wandsworth in south-west London when he was granted temporary release to attend his brother's wedding.
Zoom Interview Reveals Intentions
During his bail period, Middleborough participated in a Zoom interview with the YouTube channel Declassified UK, where he spoke openly about his potential return to custody. "I have 23 other co-defendants in prison," he stated during the interview, "so if I have to go back and I have to engage in a hunger strike in solidarity with them and the movement overall that is what I am going to do."
According to reports from the Telegraph, the father-of-one did not honour his commitment to return to jail. Middleborough is said to be part of Palestine Action, a group that opposes Elbit UK, a company that manufactures drones sent to Israel.
Alleged Plot to Target London Stock Exchange
Earlier this year, Middleborough was charged with conspiracy to cause a public nuisance between November 1 last year and January 14. Activists from Palestine Action were allegedly planning to 'target' the London Stock Exchange on the morning of January 15.
According to police statements, their intention was to disrupt Elbit by causing significant disruption to the LSE operations through 'locking on' techniques designed to prevent the building from opening for trading. Wirral Magistrates' Court heard that Middleborough intended to spray red paint, fire fake bank notes covered in red paint into the air, and block access to the building.
In his revealing interview with Declassified UK, Middleborough shared that despite being held in prison since November 2024, his young son believed he was in London "by request of the King". He explained: "I think I might come clean and tell my son I'm not just in London by request of the King but I am actually in London by request of the King's Government to hold me in captivity."
Terrorism Act Designation and Prison System Concerns
Since Middleborough's alleged offence, Palestine Action has been proscribed under Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000, making membership in the group a criminal offence. Being a member of or supporting Palestine Action now carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action previously told the PA news agency: "The London Stock Exchange raise billions of pounds for apartheid Israel and trade shares in weapons manufacturers which arm Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people. Whilst Britain remains complicit in the brutal colonisation of Palestine, our direct action campaign will not be deterred."
Middleborough represents the latest in a series of prisoners who have gone on the run following two mistaken releases from HMP Wandsworth in recent weeks. Both Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, and William 'Billy' Smith, 35, were released from the scandal-hit prison after paperwork errors occurred.
Following their recaptures, David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, tweeted: "We inherited a prison system in crisis and I'm appalled at the rate of releases in error this is causing. That's why I've ordered tough new release checks, launched an investigation, and started overhauling archaic prison systems."
Professor Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, told the Telegraph: "This latest embarrassment shows a criminal justice system in disarray. It will leave the public in no doubt that we can't control the risk of offenders and those accused either side of the prison walls."
A government spokesman stated: "Absconding is a serious criminal offence, and any defendant who commits this crime could face longer behind bars." Palestine Action has been contacted for comment regarding Middleborough's current situation.
