Germany: Trial of 'Ulm Five' protesters accused of Elbit break-in postponed
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Pauline Ertel
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Mon, 04/27/2026 - 11:33
Five activists face trial for 'membership of a criminal organisation' after breaking into an Elbit Systems facility in south Germany
The 'Ulm Five' from left to right: Daniel Tatlow-Devally, Zo Hailu, Crow Tricks, Vi Kovarbasic and Leandra Rollo (supplied)
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The trial of five activists accused of breaking into a facility of Elbit Systems, Israel's largest weapons manufacturer, in Ulm, Germany, has been postponed after the defendants were placed behind a glass barrier, preventing contact with lawyers.
Known by the name "Ulm Five", the activists allegedly entered the factory on the 8 September 2025 by smashing a glass facade and subsequently destroyed office equipment, including computers, screens and telephones.
Shortly after, the five were arrested and have since been held in pretrial detention in different prisons across southern Germany.
The trial was scheduled to begin this morning but was postponed after lawyers complained about lack of access to their clients.
According to reports and pictures released on the group's official social media account, defence lawyers entered the courtroom to find their defendants placed behind glass barriers inside the court room, inhibiting contact.
The lawyers reportedly first protested the decision but later agreed to proceed with the trial.
After no agreement could be reached regarding the placement of the defendants, the judge decided to postpone the hearing, according to reports on social media.
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"It was not possible to reach an agreement between the judge and the lawyers about the Five getting out of the glass boxes," a statement published online reads.
"The lawyers refused to leave the glass boxes to stay by their clients side. The judge then decided to postpone the trial," the statement continues.
The first hearing is now scheduled to continue next Monday, according to the statement.
The trial is taking place at the notorious Stuttgart Correctional Facility, or Stammheim Prison, infamouse for hosting the trial of members of the German far-left "Red Army Faction" (RAF), a designated "terrorist group" responsible for more than 30 murders in the 1970s.
In addition to charges of trespass and damage to property, the group is accused of "membership of a criminal organisation" - namely Palestine Action Germany - under Section 129 of the German penal code.
This legal statute is commonly applied in cases of "terrorism" and organised crime, and can lead to a prison sentence of up to five years.
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According to data by Cage International, Elbit supplies 86 percent of the Israeli military's weapons and surveillance technology deployed in Gaza.
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"We will not become complicit or resign ourselves to a system in which every available means is used to legitimize colonialism and occupation - and the unimaginable suffering they cause," a statement published by the activists' official website says.
"It is our duty to put a stop to this and disrupt it until the truth comes to light and justice prevails," the statement continues.
The group - comprised of Daniel Tatlow-Devally from Ireland, Britons Zo Hailu and Crow Tricks, Vi Kovarbasic from Germany and Spanish-Argenitinian Leandra Rollo - has been held in pretrial detention beyond the legally permitted six-month limit and is facing harsh prison conditions.
"The clients have been kept in custody for over seven months now, which effectively amounts to punishment without a final conviction," Nina Oner, the group's criminal defence lawyer, said in an interview.
Middle East Eye previously reported that the defendants face extreme isolation and are strictly monitored with little opportunity to speak to friends and family members.
Letters are read before reaching the defendants, while conversations are supervised and recorded by police representatives, except for meetings with their legal representatives.
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