An alleged pro-Palestinian activist appeared in court on Monday accused of a plot to shut down the London Stock Exchange, following a Daily Express undercover investigation.
Sean Middleborough, 31, is charged with conspiracy to cause a public nuisance between November 1 last year and January 14.
Prosecutor Lionel Cope told the court the allegations centred around a plan to block the London Stock Exchange as part of a week of protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Mr Cope said: “The intention was to shut down the Exchange regardless of any connections to Israel.”
Father-of-one Middleborough, from Liverpool, appeared at Wirral Magistrates’ Court, and spoke to confirm his name, age and address.
Five other people – three women and two men – were also arrested in connection with the plot and have been bailed pending further inquiries, ScotlandYard said.The Met began an investigation after being passed information on Friday by the Daily Express.
Activists from the group Palestine Action were allegedly plotting to “target” the London Stock Exchange on Monday morning, causing damage and “locking on” to stop the building opening for trading, the police force said.
The Express reported that the plot would kick-start a planned “week of chaos”, while the Met said there was a “suggestion that this was one part of a planned week of action”.
The allegations come after a two-month investigation during which our reporter went undercover and posed as a member of the group.
The magistrates refused Middleborough’s application for bail because of the seriousness of the alleged offences.
He was remanded in custody until February 12, when he will appear in court for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
