Full Breakdown
Trial of the “Ulm Five” Pro-Palestinian Activists Begins in Germany
4/28/2026, 4:36:37 AM
The Alleged Break-In at Elbit’s Ulm Facility
On 8 September 2025 a group of five activists entered the Ulm subsidiary of Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems. Using axes and smoke bombs they damaged office and laboratory equipment, painted the façade red and posted a video before calling police. Prosecutors estimate the material loss between €200,000 and €1 million, while later filings cite damage exceeding €1 million. The defendants are charged with trespass, property destruction and participation in a “criminal organisation” under Section 129 of the German penal code.
Legal Context and Charges
Section 129, originally intended for organised crime and terrorism, permits denial of bail and up to five years’ imprisonment. The prosecution also alleges “anti-Semitic motivations” and the use of symbols linked to Hamas. The defence invokes Section 32, arguing the act was “emergency assistance” to prevent further harm to civilians in Gaza.
Timeline of Detention and Proceedings
- 8 Sep 2025 – Break-in and arrest.
- Sep 2025 – Apr 2026 – Pre-trial detention in separate high-security prisons; defendants confined up to 23 hours a day.
- 27 Apr 2026 – Trial scheduled to open in Stuttgart-Stammheim; postponed after lawyers objected to a glass barrier separating defendants from counsel.
- Early May 2026 – Hearing resumed; trial expected to continue until July 2026.
Profiles of the Defendants
- Daniel Tatlow-Devally, 32, Irish (Dublin).
- Zo Hailu, 25, British (also known as Hannah).
- Crow Tricks, 25, British.
- Vi Kovarbasic, 29, German.
- Leandra Rollo, 40, Spanish-Argentinian.
All have no prior convictions.
Official Statements & Responses
- Prosecutors (Stuttgart Office of the Chief Prosecutor) claim the raid was motivated by anti-Semitic intent and that the coordinated damage posed a public-safety threat.
- Defence lawyers (Benjamin Düsberg, Matthias Schuster) argue the defendants acted openly, presented themselves for arrest and that “there was never even the slightest risk of flight.” They contend the emergency-assistance defence justifies the property damage.
- Amnesty International expert Paula Zimmermann warned that applying Section 129 to political protest “equates legitimate civil-society engagement with organised crime.”
- Stuttgart-Stammheim court spokesperson noted that “the code of criminal procedure allows, under certain conditions, for the extension of pre-trial detention.”
- Elbit Systems declined comment.
Criticism & Opposition
Families describe the case as a “show trial” and decry the prolonged isolation, with mother Mimi Tatlow-Golden stating the activists “represent no harm to the public.” Human-rights groups echo concerns about chilling effects on freedom of expression. The use of a glass partition in the courtroom has been condemned by defence counsel as “stigmatising” and obstructive to a fair trial.
Data & Statistics
- Damage: €200 k–€1 m (initial estimate) -> >€1 m (later filing) -> >€300 k (other reports).
- Detention: ~7–8 months, exceeding Germany’s six-month limit for pre-trial custody.
- Potential sentence: up to five years imprisonment per charge.
- Nationalities: Irish, British (two), German, Spanish-Argentinian.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact monetary loss, ranging from €200 k to over €1 m. The legal basis for classifying protest slogans as “terrorist symbols” is contested, and the prosecution’s anti-Semitic motive remains unproven pending trial evidence. Details of the defendants’ health conditions in detention are limited to family testimonies.
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
- “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
- “legitimate civil society engagement is being equated with organised crime” — Paula Zimmermann, Amnesty International
- “Anas Mustapha, head of public advocacy at Cage, said what is happening in Stuttgart is part of a “coordinated crackdown across Western states on those who refuse to be bystanders to genocide”.” — Anas Mustapha, Cage International
- “The code of criminal procedure allows, under certain conditions, for the extension of pre-trial detention.” — Stuttgart-Stammheim court spokesperson
What’s Next
The next hearing is set for early May 2026, with the trial slated to run through July. Outcomes could establish precedent for applying anti-terror statutes to civil-disobedience and influence future prosecutions of pro-Palestinian activism across Europe.