Palestine Action Germany break into Israeli Elbit arms firm in Ulm

A group calling itself 'Palestine Action Germany' claimed on Monday to have broken into the offices of Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit in Ulm, southern Germany.

Palestine Action - a group started in 2020 in the United Kingdom - is known for its direct action protests targeting Israeli-owned and linked arms firms, including Elbit Systems. The group was proscribed as a terrorist group by the UK government in July, however the appearance of a German wing of the group is a new development, with its X profile being created in September.

"BREAKING: Palestine Action Germany break into Elbit Systems' weapons factory in Ulm, to dismantle the tools used to commit genocide in Gaza," read a tweet from the account "palactionde", which is the first and only post from the account.

"The Ulm factory, owned by Israel's biggest weapons producer, makes military drone equipment and target acquisition software."

A video accompanying the post appears to show several members of the group breaking into an office building and destroying equipment, including computer hardware and furniture.

The activists also seem to ransack documents in the office, leaving them strewn across the office floor.

One member of the group is seen spraypainting "Baby Killer" on a desk and on a wall, likely referring to Israel's killing of thousands of Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip. 

The New Arab was unable to verify the footage.

The move marks the latest action by the group against Elbit Systems, one of Israel's top arms manufacturers.

Palestine Action was founded in 2020, when activists broke into and spray-painted the London office of Elbit. 

On Sunday, The Guardian reported that Elbit Systems' site in Bristol, which was frequently targeted by the group, appeared to have been abandoned by the Israeli firm.

Since its proscription in July, direct action by the group in the UK has ceased, however, several solidarity rallies for the group have taken place.

Over the weekend, around 1,500 people gathered in London to express solidarity with the group, holding placards with the words "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action". London's Metropolitan Police on Sunday said that 890 people were arrested at the rally, the majority under the UK's Terrorism Act.

Ahead of the protest, police also raided the homes of members of Defend Our Juries, a group which has criticised Palestine Action's proscription. Five members of the group were detained and released on bail.