Seven people accused of vandalizing President Donald Trump’s golf resort in Scotland have been charged with an offense that allegedly has a “terrorist connection,” a designation which has been criticized by a U.K. legal activist group. The allegation is contained in an indictment lodged with the High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow over the incident at the Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire, western Scotland, during a protest on 8 March 2025, seen by U.K. media outlets and . Turnberry is located on the Firth of Clyde, and consists of golf courses, a hotel and an academy.
The property has been owned by the Trump Organization since 2014 which brands the course Trump Turnberry. In the indictment, activists described as members of Palestine Action are alleged to have gone to the site where they dug up turf, sprayed weedkiller, caused flooding by damaging a sprinkler system, and damaged a light. They are also accused of painting slogans such as "Free Gaza", "Free Palestine" and "Gaza is not for sale" on the course and buildings as well as offensive messages aimed at Trump.
The attack followed Trump suggesting the U.S. could "take over" Gaza and resettle Palestinians as part of plans to rebuild the region into the "Riviera of the Middle East." Palestine Action was proscribed under British terrorism laws in July 2025. The U.S. has also designated it a terrorist group. Kieran Robson, 35, Uzma Bashir, 56, Ricky Southall, 34, Autumn Taylor Ward, 22, Rebecca Sian Davies, 29, John Moxley, 58, and Dylan Chiaramello, 24, were charged with criminal damage following the protest.
Robson is also accused of committing the offense while on bail which had been granted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 9 January 2025. The defendants were due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow for a preliminary hearing on Monday, but this has been moved to October following an order granted by the court. The indictment alleges that the defendants “maliciously” damaged parts of the golf resort and that the offences were “aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection”.
In June, four members of Palestine Action received jail terms that totaled 20 years after being convicted over a 2024 raid on a factory in the U.K. operated by Israeli defense firm Elbit after the judge concluded there was a terrorism connection, but the decision was condemned by human rights groups and supporters who said the sentences were disproportionate. However, the campaign group Defend Our Juries said the seven accused over the damage to Trump’s course would get far longer prison sentences if treated as terrorists even if they had not been charged with terrorism offences. "It’s now all too clear why the White House has designated Palestine Action as a global terror organization, alongside al Qaeda," Defend Our Juries said in a statement.
"It's because members of Palestine Action upset the president in March 2025 by making a mess of his golf course." Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.
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