They have repeatedly blocked traffic on major routes, clinging to works of art or soiling them. Now climate activists from the group The Last Generation have shut down Berlin airport for a few hours. Two groups had gained access to the BER airport area and grabbed the super glue or their bikes and made their protest rounds on the runways with them. The action obviously caused a lot of excitement. The call for tougher punishments is getting louder.
Interior Secretary Nancy Faeser spoke of a “renewed escalation” that was “unacceptable”. At the same time, the SPD politician thanked the emergency services for their prompt and decisive intervention.
The construction minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia was herself struck by the chaos at the capital’s airport as she was on her way to a meeting with her colleagues. But her plane had to turn around, “because these Vollpf… stick to #BER”, Ina Scharrenbach (CDU) scolded on Twitter. Berlin Airport temporarily ceased operations on both runways. According to initial information, five take-offs had to be canceled due to the action, according to the airport, 750 passengers were affected.
FDP: „Don’t accept this kind of protest anymore”
“These kinds of protests are completely illegal and can no longer be accepted just like that,” FDP secretary-general Bijan Djir-Sarai raged against news portal t-online. The “full hardness of the rule of law” must come into force. Djir-Sarai’s party friend, Berlin FDP leader Sebastian Czaja, spoke of “climate criminals”. His brother, CDU Secretary General Mario Czaja, said on t-online: “The rule of law has the necessary tools to defend against such crimes. They must now be applied consistently: preventive detention, residence bans, fines.”
AfD party and faction leader Tino Chrupalla called on the Bureau for the Protection of the Constitution to become active in the case of the last generation. Not opinions, but actions should be decisive for its assessment. “Securing critical infrastructure should be a top priority,” says Chrupalla.
Berlin Greens state president Susanne Mertens emphasized on t-online that protests must exclude the possibility of endangering other people. “But BER apparently needs to rethink its security concepts.” Her party colleague Konstantin von Notz, party leader in the Bundestag, criticized the action as “counterproductive, presumptuous and potentially dangerous”. In contrast, leftist leader Martin Schirdewan defended the last generation, whose protest “put a finger on the wound of political inaction in the face of climate catastrophe.”
Activists arrested and reported
After the action, the police arrested several people. Police headquarters in Brandenburg announced in the evening that the climate activists are being charged with dangerous interference with air traffic, trespassing and property damage. More information is expected on Friday about the number of people arrested.
In recent weeks, the activists have repeatedly blocked road traffic, clinging to paintings in museums and this week at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie on a conductor’s desk. Their aim is to draw attention to the consequences of climate change and to call on politicians to take action. You have already received a lot of criticism for these actions. In a survey, 86 percent of those surveyed viewed the protests as counterproductive. The activists have also held similar protest rallies in Austria and other countries in recent weeks.
Museums prepare for attacks
The museums are already preparing for climate meetings. Some houses have significantly tightened the “dress code” for visitors. Thick clothing and large bags are already taboo in many cases. A spokesperson for the Viennese Albertina also confirms this: “There are also emergency kits with tools and protective film, as well as gloves and glue remover in almost all exhibition rooms. Affected photos can be removed gently and quickly transported to the restoration department.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
