"The first hearing opened in a high-security court in Stuttgart on April 27, but was aborted within minutes after defense attorneys objected to the fact that they were unable to communicate confidentially with their clients. The defendants, who hold UK, Irish, German and Spanish citizenship, have been charged with trespass, destruction of property, membership of a criminal organization and use of symbols of terrorist organizations. They have been held in separate prisons since their arrest on September 8, 2025, and face several years in prison if found guilty."
"Elbit Systems is one of Israel's largest arms manufacturers with subsidiary factories in several countries. The company manufactures drones, command-and-control, and telecommunications equipment for several other militaries, including the German Bundeswehr. Germany is Israel's second biggest arms supplier. The defendants are accused of attacking a German branch of the company in September 2025."
"Videos posted online appear to show the activists breaking into the Elbit Systems subsidiary offices in the southern city of Ulm, damaging several computers and other technical equipment, and spray-painting slogans on the walls, including "baby killers." According to the defense, when security personnel on site alerted the police, the activists waited on site to be arrested."
"The group are being charged under Section 129 of the German Criminal Code, which forbids the formation and membership of criminal organizations. The section has become controversial in recent years because prosecutors have increasingly used it against other protest movements,"
A trial began in a high-security court in Stuttgart against five activists accused of attacking a German branch of Elbit Systems in September 2025. The first hearing on April 27 was halted within minutes after defense attorneys objected that they could not communicate confidentially with their clients. Elbit Systems is a major Israeli arms manufacturer producing drones and command-and-control and telecommunications equipment for militaries including Germany’s Bundeswehr. Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier. The defendants, holding UK, Irish, German, and Spanish citizenship, are charged with trespass, destruction of property, membership in a criminal organization, and use of symbols of terrorist organizations. They have been held in separate prisons since September 8, 2025, and could face several years in prison if convicted. Videos show break-in, damage to computers and technical equipment, and spray-painting slogans including “baby killers.”
Read at www.dw.com
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