By Dirk Böttger, Isabel Pfannkuche and Maren Wittge
They had been announcing it for a long time. Just in time for rush hour on Monday morning, the eco-chaoters of the “Last Generation” paralyzed important traffic junctions in the capital, thereby incurring the wrath of drivers. Some of them were physically attacked, even sprayed with irritant gas. 500 police officers were deployed across the city.
At 7.15 a.m. the climate stickers started on the Prenzlauer Promenade (Pankow) – the connection to the A114 has often been the target of the chaotic people.
In the afternoon they also tried to disrupt rush hour traffic. At this point, the police counted more than 42 blockades at important intersections, access roads and motorway exits. Traffic was backed up throughout the city.
This slob is removed from the road with a concrete saw Photo: AFP
Among other things, the exits of the A100, A103, A114 and several federal roads into the city were affected by sit-ins. But the police were often quicker: plainclothes police officers watched the intersections and were able to prevent the traffic from getting stuck in time! For example at Tempelhofer Damm.
When the climate chaotics did manage to do it, it took about one to two hours to get rid of them. The police used sunflower oil and gauze bandages. However, at four intersections, the extremists fixed their hands with a particularly stubborn adhesive mixture – similar to concrete – which made the blockades last longer.
Demonstrators stick to the Kurt Schumacher Dam near the Bauhaus Photo: Isabel Pancake
In several cases, drivers tried to clear the road themselves. During a blockade on Landsberger Allee/Conrad-Blenkle-Straße (Prenzlauer Berg), a driver even sprayed an air conditioning adhesive irritant gas directly into the face!
He then tried to kick him off the road. The police are now investigating dangerous bodily harm. In Spandau, officers also stopped a driver who was attempting to remove a climate protester from the road.
Police officers carry a climate sticker off the street in Friedrichshain Photo: Reuters
The police appealed: “We understand if you are annoyed by the protests, but please do not intervene or even use violence.”
Preliminary conclusion: 266 gluers were arrested, several were taken into custody – and then later released! One officer was slightly injured in the hand.
Interior expert Martin Matz (58, SPD): “Many thanks to the police for their decisive intervention. Now it’s the justice system’s turn!”
Lars Lindemann (52), General Secretary of the Berlin FDP, also criticizes: “These criminals are dealt with far too timidly because the sentences have no deterrent effect.” What is important are accelerated procedures, the prohibition of meetings without registration and a compensation platform for injured parties.
Two drivers shout at Last Generation demonstrators and pull them from Spandauer Damm Photo: dpa
What threatens drivers if they attack climate activists?
Drivers’ dissatisfaction with climate stickers is increasing more and more. On Monday, a demonstrator was even sprayed with irritant gas. What threatens road users if they take the law into their own hands?
► Threat: The law provides for a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine.
► Mayhem: Anyone who commits violence against another person can be sentenced to a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine.
► Dangerous bodily harm: The prison sentence can even be up to ten years.
► Insult: Imprisonment of up to one year or a fine.
► Damage to property: Imprisonment of up to two years or a fine.