Full Breakdown
German Court Tries Five Pro-Palestinian Activists Over 2025 Elbit Systems Break-In
4/28/2026, 12:35:45 AM
The Ulm Factory Break-In and Subsequent Trial
On 8 September 2025 a group of five activists entered the Ulm subsidiary of Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems. They smashed doors, used axes to damage office and technical equipment, deployed smoke bombs and sprayed graffiti before posting a video online, calling police and awaiting arrest. The defendants have been charged with trespass, property destruction and membership of a criminal organisation under Germany’s Section 129. Their trial began on 27 April 2026 at the Stuttgart-Stammheim high-security court and is scheduled to run until late July 2026.
Legal and Historical Context of Section 129
Section 129 of the German Criminal Code, originally devised in the Prussian era, permits severe penalties for “criminal organisations” and is routinely applied to terrorism and organised-crime cases. Its recent use against the Ulm activists marks a notable extension of the statute to political protest.
The Five Defendants: Identities and Actions
- Daniel Tatlow-Devally, 32, Irish, former philosophy student.
- Zo Hailu, 25, British, reported strip-searched and forced to wear an adult nappy.
- Crow Tricks, 25, British.
- Vi Kovarbasic, 29, German.
- Leandra Rollo, 40, Spanish citizen of Argentine origin.
All five entered the premises, recorded the incident, and remained on site until police arrived.
Timeline of Events
- 8 Sept 2025, 03:30 CET – Break-in at Elbit Systems, Ulm.
- 8 Sept 2025 – Arrest of all five activists on the scene.
- 8 Sept 2025 – 27 Apr 2026 – Pre-trial detention in separate prisons; visits limited to two hours per month, isolation up to 23 hours daily.
- 27 Apr 2026 – Trial commences in Stuttgart-Stammheim.
- Late July 2026 – Expected conclusion of trial.
Damage Estimates and Potential Sentences
Prosecutors initially valued damage at €200 000; later assessments place it between €200 000 and over €1 million. Conviction on the listed charges carries a maximum prison term of five years.
Human-Rights Concerns Over Pre-Trial Detention
Families report that detainees have been denied books, subjected to strip-searches, and confined for up to 23 hours per day. Legal experts note that detention has exceeded the six-month limit normally permitted for pre-trial custody.
Official Positions: Prosecution, Defence, and Government
The Stuttgart chief prosecutor alleges “anti-Semitic intent” and classifies the group as members of “Palestine Action Germany”. The German government, while acknowledging Elbit as a major arms supplier, has not commented on the trial. Defence lawyer Benjamin Düsberg argues the act was “defence of others” and invokes Section 32’s emergency-assistance provision.
Criticism from NGOs and Families
Amnesty International’s Paula Zimmermann warns that applying Section 129 “equates legitimate civil-society engagement with organised crime”. CAGE’s Anas Mustapha describes the case as part of a “co-ordinated crackdown”. Families, including mother Mimi Tatlow-Golden, describe the proceedings as a “show trial” and the detention conditions as “disproportionate”.
Conflicting Figures and Unresolved Issues
Sources differ on the exact monetary loss (€200 000–€1 million) and on whether the six-month detention limit has been legally breached. The classification of protest slogans as symbols of Hamas remains contested.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We intend to use the proceedings to essentially turn the tables. We want to show that it’s not our clients who should be on the hook, but rather the Elbit bosses, who continued delivering weapons even during the genocide.” — Benjamin Düsberg, defence lawyer
- “There was never even the slightest risk of flight. Our clients waited at the scene for the police to arrive, even though they could easily have fled,” — Benjamin Düsberg, defence lawyer
- “legitimate civil society engagement is being equated with organised crime.” — Paula Zimmermann, Amnesty International Germany
- “What is happening in Stuttgart is part of a co-ordinated crackdown across Western states on those who refuse to be bystanders to genocide,” — Anas Mustapha, CAGE
- “The friends carried out only property damage, at a specific location and with the aim to end a genocide. They did not hide their identities and presented themselves for arrest. They represent no harm to the public. Using section 129 to keep them in detention … before the trial can in my view only be viewed as serving a political purpose.” — Mimi Tatlow-Golden, mother
Outlook: Trial Schedule and Possible Outcomes
The Stuttgart court will deliver its verdict by late July 2026. If convicted, the activists face up to five years imprisonment, while the case continues to draw scrutiny over Germany’s arms exports to Israel and the application of anti-terrorism legislation to political protest.
