Five pro-Palestinian activists are set to appear in court in Germany for an attack on an Israeli arms company. Their families worry the trial could turn into a “show trial.” The activists, who are citizens of the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Spain, have been held in separate prisons since September 8. They are accused of breaking into Elbit Systems in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, early that morning, causing hundreds of thousands of euros in damage before calling the police to arrest them.
Known as the “Ulm 5,” they face charges of trespassing, property destruction, and participating in a criminal organization under Section 129 of Germany’s criminal code. The trial starts Monday. The Section 129 charge means authorities see them as a threat to society, allowing them to be denied bail. Their families say they are locked up for up to 23 hours a day, with limited access to visits, books, phone calls, and mail. If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison.
Benjamin Düsberg, a lawyer for Daniel Tatlow-Devally, a 32-year-old from Dublin, spoke for all the defendants. He believes the German state is trying to make an example of them, as none have prior convictions. He said the attack on the weapons factory was an act of “defense of others,” aimed at stopping arms shipments to Israel. Düsberg, one of eight defense lawyers, said, “We plan to use the trial to flip the script. We want to show it’s not our clients who should be blamed, but the Elbit bosses, who kept sending weapons even during the genocide.”
Elbit Systems is the main land-based weapons supplier for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The company has been asked for comment on the trial. Referring to Section 32 of Germany’s criminal code, Düsberg argued, “Our key point is that our clients’ actions—destroying lab and office equipment—were justified as emergency assistance.” Under this rule, an otherwise illegal act can be justified if it’s the only way to prevent immediate harm or attack.
The mother of Daniel Tatlow-Devally, a philosophy graduate, said the five pose no danger to the public. Germany is the second-largest arms supplier to Israel, after the US. The defense will argue that once the International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that the genocide claim against Palestinians in Gaza was “plausible,” Berlin should have stopped all arms deliveries. Israel rejected the ICJ’s accusation as “outrageous and false.”
According to prosecutors, the group broke in, destroyed office and tech equipment with axes, set off smoke bombs, and spray-painted the building’s exterior. They posted a video of the break-in online, then called the police and waited on the factory grounds to be arrested. The damage is estimated between €200,000 (£173,000) and €1 million.
Mimi Tatlow-Golden, mother of Tatlow-Devally, said she fears the case has a political angle and the five will “face a show trial” as the German state tries to send a message about the consequences of such actions. She added, “The friends only damaged property, at a specific place, to try to stop a genocide. They didn’t hide who they were and turned themselves in for arrest.”They pose no threat to the public. Using Section 129 to keep them locked up before trial can, in my view, only be seen as serving a political purpose.”
Leandra Rollo, a Spanish citizen from Argentina, goes on trial on Monday.
Matthias Schuster, another defense lawyer, said: “Our clients are not dangerous, but the authorities believe they should be seen that way to justify the strict custody conditions they’ve been held under.”
Nicky Robertson, the mother of Zo Hailu, 25, who is being held in a prison in Bühl, Baden-Württemberg, said the “extreme treatment” the group received felt “like a disproportionate response for property damage.”
Hailu, who is also a British citizen, was strip-searched when she arrived at the prison and forced to wear an adult diaper, Robertson said. “These are people who love the environment and children, who are caring, creative, sporty, and decent team players. They’re not a danger to society. Quite the opposite,” she added.
Rosie Tricks, whose 25-year-old sibling, Crow Tricks, another British citizen, is being held at the maximum-security Stuttgart-Stammheim prison, said visits had been limited to two hours a month. “It’s lovely to see them, but knowing Crow as a sociable, bubbly, fun person—the light of our family—it’s really hard to see them in this position,” Rosie said of Crow. “Their health has definitely suffered. They look okay, but inside there’s a lot of anxiety and worry.”
The other defendants are Vi Kovarbasic, a 29-year-old German, and Leandra Rollo, a 40-year-old Spanish citizen from Argentina. The five have continued to be denied bail, even after the six-month limit for pre-trial detention passed.
A spokesperson for the Stuttgart-Stammheim court said: “The code of criminal procedure allows, under certain conditions, for the extension of pre-trial detention.”
In a special detention review last month, Stuttgart’s higher regional court “examined these conditions … and ordered the continuation of pre-trial detention for all defendants,” basing its decision “on the existence of a risk of flight, which would not be sufficiently reduced even by posting bail.”
The court spokesperson added: “Due to its size, its state-of-the-art security and media technology, the new courtroom building is particularly well-suited to the requirements of state security trials (such as that of the Ulm 5), especially given the anticipated high level of public interest.”
The trial is expected to run until the end of July.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the trial of ProPalestine activists accused of attacking an Israeli weapons factory in Germany
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is this trial about
Its about a group of ProPalestine activists who are accused of attacking a factory in Germany that makes parts for Israeli weapons They are on trial for crimes like arson and property damage
2 Why did they attack the factory
The activists say they did it to stop weapons from being sent to Israel which they believe are being used against Palestinians in Gaza They see the factory as a direct target in what they call a protest against war
3 Where did this happen
The attack took place at a factory in the town of LchowDannenberg in northern Germany
4 How many people are on trial
Several activists are on trial but the exact number varies Reports often mention a group of around 5 to 8 people including both German and international activists
5 What charges are they facing
They face charges including arson attempted arson damaging property and in some cases forming a criminal organization The charges are serious because the attack involved fire and explosives
6 Were any weapons actually made there
The factory produces parts for military drones and other equipment used by the Israeli military The activists claim these parts are used in attacks on Gaza
7 Is this a political trial
The activists and their supporters say it is a political trial meant to silence proPalestine activism The German government and courts say it is a normal criminal trial about breaking the law
AdvancedLevel Questions
8 What was the specific attack method
The activists used Molotov cocktails and other incendiary devices to set fire to the factorys electrical system and a truck parked nearby They also left graffiti with proPalestine messages
9 Did the attack succeed in stopping production
The attack caused significant damage but the factory was not completely destroyed Production was temporarily halted but the company later repaired the damage and resumed operations
10 How does German law treat political motivation in this case
German law can consider political motivation as an
