Moment pro-Palestine activist firebombs McDonald's, Starbucks and BBC offices as she faces prison for violent anti-Israel campaign in town

A pro-Palestine activist named Martha Goddard, 51, was recently convicted of setting off homemade firebombs targeting several businesses and media outlets in Norwich, Norfolk. The incidents occurred between March and July of last year, during which Goddard allegedly attacked a McDonald’s, two Starbucks locations, and a BBC office. According to court records, she was found guilty of five counts of causing criminal damage and two counts of making an explosive substance following a 12-day trial at Woolwich Crown Court. The prosecution presented evidence including CCTV footage showing Goddard placing devices at each location. In one clip, she is seen approaching the BBC’s headquarters at The Forum, affixing pro-Palestine posters to the building’s glass facade. After positioning a device on the ground, she removed an object from her pocket and reached toward it before the device ignited. Despite the fire erupting behind her, she walked away calmly. A security guard later approached the site to investigate. Posters left at the scenes included messages condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and labeling the BBC as “cowards.” These posters featured an inverted red triangle, a symbol linked to the Hamas militant group and broader pro-Palestine movements. Police traced Goddard through fingerprints left on the posters. During the trial, prosecutors revealed that officers discovered several kilograms of materials used to create thermite, a pyrotechnic compound known for its extreme heat, during a raid on Goddard’s home. They found these substances stored in bottles with holes in the top, which she would ignite using lit sparklers. Confession letters referencing the attacks were also found on her computer. Additional items, such as a camouflage jacket, woolly hat, bike, and tote bag matching the clothing seen in the CCTV footage, were seized. The damage caused by the incidents totaled thousands of pounds. During the trial, Mrs Justice Maura McGowan instructed jurors to base their verdicts solely on the evidence presented, urging them to avoid letting personal views on Palestine or specific targets influence their judgment. Neighbors described Goddard as eccentric but not threatening. Some mentioned seeing her practicing martial arts with a samurai sword near the local river, an activity that reportedly frightened nearby children. However, despite these observations, no one seemed to anticipate the scale of her campaign against perceived Israeli interests. Goddard was acquitted of charges related to an attempted explosion at the Tacolneston transmitting station in south Norfolk. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for October at Woolwich Crown Court. As the legal process continues, the case highlights the complex interplay between individual activism and public safety concerns in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions.