Seven face trial over alleged vandalism at Trump’s Turnberry resort
Seven people are due to stand trial on a terror-related charge over alleged vandalism at Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire. Prosecutors say the damage was aggravated by a “terrorist connection”; the case concerns alleged protest activity at the resort on 8 March 2025.
The seven are accused of damaging buildings and golf-course property, including digging up turf, spraying weed-killer and damaging a sprinkler system. Three also face a separate charge alleging they used vehicles with false number plates to conceal their movements. Defence lawyers entered not-guilty pleas for six defendants, while one lawyer said she had only recently joined the case; a 15-day trial is scheduled to begin in Glasgow on 14 February 2028.
In short
- Seven people face a terror-related charge over alleged damage at Turnberry.
- The alleged protest took place on 8 March 2025.
- A 15-day trial is scheduled for February 2028.
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The case for
Prosecutors can argue that the alleged actions went beyond ordinary property damage: targeting a high-profile resort and disrupting its operations may have been intended to intimidate or influence the public or government. If the evidence supports a terrorist connection under the law, treating the conduct as especially serious could protect public safety and uphold accountability, while leaving guilt to be determined at trial.
The case against
Defence advocates can argue that protest-related property damage, even if proved, should not be treated as terrorism unless the evidence clearly establishes the required connection and intent. Applying a terrorism-related charge risks overstating the conduct and chilling political expression; the allegations, including the claims about false number plates, must be tested fairly in court, and the defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Explained simply
Turnberry is a golf resort in Ayrshire, on Scotland’s west coast, owned by Donald Trump, the US president and former businessman. It has a hotel and several golf courses, and has been a focus of protest activity linked to Trump and his businesses.
In Scotland, prosecutors can allege that damage to property was aggravated by a terrorist connection; this is a legal claim about the circumstances or purpose of an offence, not a separate finding of guilt. The case will consider what happened at the resort and whether the accused committed the offences alleged.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Seven suspects on terror-related charges over vandalism at Donald Trump resort”.