New Delhi: The trial of five European nationals accused of attacking a factory linked to Israeli weapons manufacturer ‘Elbit Systems’ is set to begin on Monday in Germany.
What is the case?
According to the prosecution, in the early morning of September 8, 2025, the accused activists entered a factory in the southern city of Ulm, Germany, and while filming themselves began destroying office equipment. The factory was identified to be of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest private defence contractor which has played a central role in supporting its current war in Gaza. The factory in Ulm was reported to be operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems.
Similar attacks on Elbit facilities have also taken place in other European countries, notably the United Kingdom, where the Palestine Action protest group is formed.
What now?
In the case of the so-called “Ulm Five”, charged with the attack on the factory in Germany, the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Stuttgart is reportedly pursuing charges of property damage and considers the activists members of a criminal organisation, as reported by Al Jazeera. It was further reported that the group of accused includes 32-year-old Irish national Daniel Tatlow-Devally, 25-year-old Briton Zo Hailu, Crow Tricks, who is also British and 25, 29-year-old German citizen Kovarbasic, and Leandra Rollo, a 40-year-old Spanish national.
The lawyers for the activists contend the alleged incident was “an act of civil disobedience” aimed at stopping actions that violate international law. “No one was injured,” they said in a recent statement. “None of the defendants has a prior criminal record. None used violence against any person.”
Since October 7, 2023, German authorities have responded harshly to anti-war protests, and the current case is being seen by some as part of the trend of an escalation in Germany’s crackdown on the Palestine solidarity movement.