Five pro-Palestine activists are set to appear in court over an attack on an Israeli arms company in Germany, with their families warning the proceedings could become a "show trial." The group, known as the "Ulm 5," have been held in pre-trial detention since their arrest on September 8.
Background of the Case
The activists—British, Irish, German, and Spanish citizens—are accused of breaking into Elbit Systems in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, in the early hours of September 8. They allegedly caused hundreds of thousands of euros in damage before calling police to arrest them. The group has been charged with trespass, destruction of property, and participation in a criminal organization under Section 129 of the German criminal code.
Legal Implications
The Section 129 charge allows authorities to deny bail, as the accused are considered a threat to society. Families report that the defendants have been locked up for up to 23 hours a day, with restricted access to visits, books, phone calls, and mail. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison.
Benjamin Düsberg, a lawyer for defendant Daniel Tatlow-Devally, 32, from Dublin, stated that the German state is trying to make an example of the five, none of whom have prior convictions. He argued that the attack was an act of "defense of others" to obstruct arms shipments to Israel.
"We intend to use the proceedings to essentially turn the tables," Düsberg said. "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."
Defense Strategy
Referring to Section 32 of the German criminal code, Düsberg said: "Our central argument will be that the actions of our clients there—namely the destruction of laboratory equipment and office equipment—were justified under the grounds of emergency assistance." Under this clause, an otherwise unlawful act can be justified if there is no other way to avert imminent harm or attack.
Germany is the second-largest arms supplier to Israel after the US. The defense team will argue that Berlin should have halted all deliveries after the International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that the genocide claim against Palestinians in Gaza was "plausible." Israel rejected the ICJ accusation as "outrageous and false."
Conditions of Detention
According to prosecutors, the group used axes to destroy office and technical equipment, detonated smoke bombs, and defaced the building exterior with graffiti. They posted a video of the break-in online and waited for authorities. The damage is estimated between €200,000 and €1 million.
Mimi Tatlow-Golden, mother of Tatlow-Devally, a philosophy graduate, expressed fear that the case has a political dimension. "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."
Matthias Schuster, another defense lawyer, added: "Our clients are not dangerous but [authorities] believe they should be seen as such to justify the strict custody conditions in which they have been held."
Family Accounts
Nicky Robertson, mother of Zo Hailu, 25, a British citizen held in Bühl prison, described the "extreme treatment" as disproportionate. Hailu was strip-searched on arrival and forced to wear an adult nappy. "These are people who love the environment and children, who are caring, creative, sporty, decent team players. They’re not a danger to society. Quite the opposite," she said.
Rosie Tricks, sibling of Crow Tricks, 25, another British citizen held at Stuttgart-Stammheim maximum-security prison, said visits are limited to two hours per 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. Their health has definitely suffered."
The other defendants are Vi Kovarbasic, 29, German, and Leandra Rollo, 40, Spanish citizen from Argentina. All five have been denied bail even after the six-month limit of pre-trial detention passed.
A spokesperson for Stuttgart-Stammheim court said the code of criminal procedure allows extension of pre-trial detention under certain conditions. A special detention review last month ordered continuation based on "risk of flight, which would not be sufficiently mitigated even by the posting of bail." The trial is expected to run until the end of July.
