Activists Facing Charges After Infiltrating Israeli Arms Factory in Germany
A group of five pro-Palestinian activists, known as the Ulm 5, is set to appear in court on Monday. This collective includes three women and two men from the UK, Spain, Ireland, and Germany, all aged between 25 and 40.
According to the German newspaper Die Welt, the indictment claims that the group has ties to Palestine Action Germany, a sister organization of one banned by the British government last year.
The five individuals allegedly broke into the German branch of Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems in Ulm on September 8, 2025, causing damage estimated at around 1 million euros. Reportedly, they did not resist when they were arrested at the scene.
They are accused of entering through a side window and using various tools to vandalize computers, displays, phones, sinks, toilets, windows, and other sensitive electronic equipment.
The attack also involved damaging the building’s glass walls and the entrance area with tools and red paint. The Ulm 5 are said to have released a video on social media claiming responsibility for their actions.
Charges against them include trespassing, property damage, and involvement in a criminal organization under Article 129 of the German Criminal Code. The trial is set to commence on Monday.
Benjamin Duesberg, the lawyer representing the Irish members of the group, expressed concerns that the German state is trying to “make an example” of them since they have no prior criminal records. He characterized the break-in as a form of “defense of others,” aiming to disrupt arms transfers to Israel. Duesberg is one of eight lawyers, representing 32-year-old Daniel Tatlow-Deverley from Dublin.
“We plan to use this trial to shift the focus,” Duesberg stated, asserting that it is the leadership at Elbit, not the activists, who should be held accountable for the ongoing conflict. He cited Article 32 of the German Criminal Code, arguing that their actions were justified as emergency aid.
Tatlow-Deverley’s mother, Mimi Tatlow-Golden, defended her son and his friends, expressing concern that they might face a politically motivated trial. She noted that they aimed to only cause property damage to stop what they view as genocide. “They didn’t attempt to hide who they were or resisted arrest. They pose no threat to the public,” she added, suggesting that using Article 129 to keep them detained is overly politically charged.
As noted by Die Welt, the Palestinian movement in Germany has gained visibility through activism, protests, and even vandalism. There were reportedly over 2,000 demonstrations in Baden-Württemberg by the end of 2025, linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
