From BZ/dpa
After disrupting the Berlin Marathon with orange paint, the eight demonstrators involved from the group Last Generation are now to pay a fine of 2,000 euros.
A police spokeswoman announced on Monday that they would receive a fine of this amount. This punishment had been announced in advance by the police for violating a ban on demonstrations for the climate chaos. Further criminal charges are also possible. Climate protection demonstrators will continue their road blockades in Berlin on Monday.
Activists apparently spilled paint on the running route Photo: AFP/Tobias Schwarz
Shortly before the start of the marathon on Sunday morning near the Brandenburg Gate, some demonstrators stormed onto the route. They spilled orange paint and wanted to sit down. Police and stewards quickly pulled or carried them aside. The group explained: “Why are world records more important to us than the livelihoods of billions of people?”
Further attempts by the last generation to disrupt the marathon were prevented by the police. A total of 40 members were checked at various points and some were temporarily arrested because they were “action-oriented” and had banners or high-visibility vests or something similar with them, said the spokeswoman.
In mid-September, the group intensified its protest in Berlin again and caused traffic jams and obstructions with road blockages. She sprayed the Brandenburg Gate with orange paint a week before the marathon. So far, the gate has not been able to be completely cleaned because the paint is too stubborn.
Protest planned abroad – fewer blockades in Berlin?
The protest group now also called for actions abroad for the next weekend. The aim is to be The Hague in the Netherlands, where a large alliance of different groups is to be supported in a daily blockade of a motorway. The protest in Berlin could also be scaled back somewhat.
In internal chat channels, the group makes urgent appeals to its supporters to hold on: “There is resistance everywhere. We stand together, across borders. We won’t stop until we win this.”
Had little sleep: Two climate radicals are sitting at the Hohenzollerndamm motorway exit on Monday morning Photo: Last generation
On Monday morning, members of the Last Generation once again stuck themselves to the streets. The police initially spoke of around six blockades, one of which could have been prevented. Police officers are on duty to clear the streets again. The group wrote online about a dozen protests “on numerous arteries in the capital.”
According to the police, the actions affected included thoroughfares in Pankow, Charlottenburg, Treptow, Lichtenberg and Neukölln. The police appealed again: “Again the request: do not intervene yourself. Our colleagues will be on site as quickly as possible to prevent or resolve these.”