Ulm 5
The Ulm 5 are a group of five defendants that are currently on trial for breaking into and damaging the Ulm offices of Elbit Systems.[1][2] They are charged with trespassing and destruction of property, as well as membership of a criminal organization due to their connection with Palestine Action Germany.[3] The five defendants are Daniel Tatlow-Devally (32, Irish), Zo Hailu (25, British), Crow Tricks (25, British), Vi Kovarbasic (29, German), and Leandra Rollo (40, Argentinian/Spanish).[4]
The trial began on April 27, 2026 at the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court, in the grounds of Stammheim prison.[4]
Events
[edit]On September 8, 2025 the group filmed themselves breaking into and defacing the German offices of Elbit Systems. They vandalized the building using red paint and smoke grenades, broke windows, and destroyed office equipment and measurement devices.[5]
The group called the police on themselves, and waited inside the premises to be apprehended. They are estimated to have caused damage worth between 200,000 and 1,000,000 Euros.[5][6]
Detention and trial
[edit]The case was handed over to Germany's Security and Counter-Terrorism Center.[1] In addition to destruction of property, the group is being charged with membership of a criminal organization,[7] a charge which carries a maximum sentence of five years.[4] The Chief Prosecutor of Stuttgart has called for the court to consider their motivations and objectives antisemitic, while the defense states that the incident was civil disobedience aimed at stopping the Gaza Genocide and actions by the German government that violate international law.[8][9]
The trial was to begin on 27 April 2026, but was halted when the defense team refused to be seated apart from their clients, who were separated from the rest of the court by security glass.[4]
An Irish cross-party delegation of politicians urged the Irish government to raise concerns with Germany over access to legal representation, solitary confinement, prolonged detention, and the unusually harsh conditions of the detention of the defendants. They furthermore called for official observers to attend the trial.[10]
The trial is expected to run through the end of July.[8]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Palestine Action breaks into Elbit Systems German office | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-09-09. Archived from the original on 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ↑ Bell, Bethany; Völk, Kristina (28 May 2026). "Trial of 'Ulm 5' activists: How Germany is dealing with its Palestine Action case". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) (April 27, 2026). "Pro-Palestinian Activists Tried in Germany Over Break-in at Elbit-linked Site". Haaretz. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Connolly, Kate (2026-04-27). "Pro-Palestine activists appear in court over attack on Israeli arms factory in Germany". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- 1 2 Amit, Hagai (September 8, 2025). "Palestine Action Activists Vandalize Elbit Systems Facility in Germany to Protest Gaza War". Haaretz. Archived from the original on May 20, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Connolly, Kate (2026-04-27). "Irish activist among five to face German court over attack on Israeli arms company Elbit". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 2026-04-28. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ↑ SWR. "Baden-Württemberg: Angriff auf Rüstungsunternehmen in Ulm: Das sind die Vorwürfe gegen die fünf Verdächtigen". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- 1 2 Natour, Karim. "Activists accused of raiding Israeli weapons factory face trial in Germany". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2026-04-27. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ↑ Neumann, Paul (30 January 2026). "»Ulm 5«-Prozess: Warum wird in Stammheim verhandelt?". junge Welt (in German). Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
- ↑ Cole, Deborah (24 July 2026). "Ireland urged to put pressure on Germany over pro-Palestinian activist's trial". The Guardian.
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