The Straits Times World News
· collected 2026-08-28 · by The Straits Times
Seven protesters accused of vandalizing Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last year are facing potential longer sentences due to what prosecutors claim is a "terrorist connection". The seven, from the now-banned group Palestine Action, allegedly dug up turf, sprayed weedkiller, and painted pro-Palestinian graffiti on the course. If found guilty, they could face harsher prison sentences under terrorism laws. This case comes amid a broader crackdown on the group, which was banned in Britain in July last year and designated as a terrorist organization by the US this week.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Seven protesters from the banned group Palestine Action have been charged with damaging Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last year. They allegedly spray-painted pro-Palestinian graffiti, including "Free Gaza" and "Free Palestine", and dug up holes on the course. According to prosecutors, if found guilty, they could face longer sentences due to a claimed "terrorism connection". The indictment alleges that the protesters maliciously damaged the golf courses and painted offensive slogans.
Written for “Trump Golf Course Vandalism” on 2026-08-31,
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The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
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Leaning score withheld for article 3003: no verified evidence · logged 2026-08-28
Prosecutors say seven charged with damaging Trump Scottish golf course had 'terrorism connection'
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seven → say → connection
Seven protesters accused of daubing pro-Palestinian graffiti on U.S. President Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last year could face longer sentences if found guilty due to what prosecutors have described as a "terrorist connection."
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prosecutors → accuse → connection
Activists from the now banned group Palestine Action were charged last year with criminal damage for spray-painting walls at the course with the slogans "Free Gaza" and "Free Palestine" as well as insults against Trump.
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Activists → ban → Trump
"Gaza is not for sale" was painted on one of the greens, and holes on the course were dug up.
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holes → paint → course
The indictment, provided by the Scottish courts' service on Friday, stated that the seven accused "did maliciously dig up turf on the golf courses", sprayed weedkiller on the fairways and greens, and painted "political and offensive slogans on the grass".
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seven → provide → grass
It added that prosecutors would seek harsher sentences should they be found guilty because the alleged offences were "aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection".
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offences → add → connection
The accused will make their first appearance in court on Monday.
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accused → accuse → Monday
Palestine Action, which had increasingly targeted Israel-linked defence companies in Britain, was proscribed under terrorism laws in Britain in July last year.
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which → target → July
On Wednesday, the U.S. also designated it a terrorist group, as part of a Trump administration crackdown on "far-left extremists".
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it → designate → extremists
The campaign group Defend Our Juries said the seven accused of damage would, if found guilty, face far longer prison sentences should they be treated as terrorists even though they had not been charged with any terrorism offences.
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they → say → offences
"It’s now all too clear why the White House has designated Palestine Action as a global terror organisation, alongside al Qaeda," a spokesperson for the group said.
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spokesperson → ’ → group
"It's because members of Palestine Action upset the president in March 2025 by making a mess of his golf course."
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members → upset → course
In June, four members of Palestine Action received longer jail terms after being found guilty over a raid on a factory operated by Israeli defence firm Elbit that caused more than £1 million of damage because the judge concluded there was a terrorism connection.
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judge → receive → damage
That drew condemnation from human rights groups and high-profile supporters who said it was disproportionate.
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it → draw → groups
Days later, Britain's Court of Appeal upheld the government's ban on Palestine Action, saying the group "overtly promoted unlawful violence amounting to terrorism".
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group → uphold → terrorism
Its co-founder Huda Ammori is seeking to now challenge the implementation of the ban in the UK Supreme Court.
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founder → seek → Court
"The news that the defendants could face terror sentencing — and that Trump is now following Britain’s lead by banning Palestine Action in the U.S. — should be the final nail in the coffin of this ban, which has become one of the most extreme attacks on free speech and the right to protest in modern British history," she said in a statement.
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she → face → statement
