TLDR
Contents
- Seven people have been charged with vandalising Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.
- The charges include an accusation of “terrorist connection” under malicious damage laws.
- The clubhouse was graffitied and the course was dug up with the words “Gaza is not 4 sale” on 8 March last year.
- Vandals also sprayed weed killer on fairways and greens and damaged a sprinkler system, causing flooding.
- The seven defendants are due to appear in court on 31 August.
Seven people have been charged over damage caused to Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. The charges include an allegation that the offence has a “terrorist connection.”
The incident happened on 8 March last year. Vandals dug up turf on the golf course and sprayed the words “Gaza is not 4 sale” onto the grass.
The clubhouse at the resort was also sprayed with graffiti. The building, walls, pillars and a signpost were painted with political and offensive slogans.
What the Charges Say
According to the indictment, the group sprayed glyphosate or a similar weed killer on the fairways and greens. They also scored a political slogan into the turf.
The charges state that a sprinkler system was damaged, causing flooding. A light fixture was also damaged during the incident.
Prosecutors allege the offence “was aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection.” This is a specific legal aggravation under Scottish law.
The seven people charged are Kieran Robson, 35, Uzma Bashir, 56, Ricky Southall, 34, Autumn Taylor Ward, 22, Rebecca Sian Davies, 29, John Moxley, 58, and Dylan Chiaramello, 24.
They are due to appear in court on 31 August.
Government Response at the Time
A meeting took place on 13 March last year between Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, and Eric Trump, the US president’s son. A note from that meeting recorded concern over the vandalism.
The note said officials “condemned the damage caused by vandalism.” It also said the meeting offered reassurance that authorities would keep taking the incident seriously.
Turnberry is one of Scotland’s most well-known golf resorts. Its Ailsa course has hosted the Open Championship four times.
Non-resident tee times at the course are listed at up to £1,000 per person. The resort sits on the west coast of Scotland in Ayrshire.
Trump bought the property in 2014 from a Dubai-based group. The price of the sale was not disclosed at the time.
Trump added his name to the resort after the purchase. He has visited the course during past trips to the UK, including in July 2025.
The case is being handled through the Scottish court system. The defendants face the malicious damage charge along with the terrorism aggravation.
No further court dates beyond 31 August have been announced.
