Germany Climate activists invade several airports - flight operations partially suspended

Last Generation activists are calling for more climate protection and tangible change. They have now launched protests at several German airports.

The Last Generation Climate Initiative launched protests in several German cities on Thursday. According to the organization, two activists in orange high-visibility vests entered each of the airports in Berlin-Brandenburg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Cologne-Bonn and Karlsruhe. dpa photographers on site confirmed the events.

Anja Windl from the Last Generation gained unauthorized access to Stuttgart Airport on Thursday morning. In a short video clip on Instagram, she says: "We refuse to die for fossil fuels. Oil kills, gas kills, coal kills. It has never been so important to protest in human history because we are faced with a choice: Protest or die."

The activists "peacefully expressed their opposition by displaying banners reading 'Oil kills' and 'Sign the treaty'," the organization reported in a statement. "The runways were not entered."

Climate activists speak out"We will be active at airports across Europe"

According to a dpa photographer, there are at least two activists on the southern runway at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER). There is a hole in the fence. The police are on duty and a helicopter is circling over the site.

Flight operations at BER were temporarily interrupted, but were resumed shortly before 7 a.m., according to the federal police. There was initially no information from the airport.

According to a police spokesperson, flight operations in Nuremberg have been suspended until further notice.

According to the police, flight operations at Cologne/Bonn Airport had to be temporarily suspended as a result of the protest action. Even after the resumption, there could still be delays, the airport announced. The activists had gained access to the airside area of the airport site. A hole was discovered in a fence on the site.

Renouncing coal, oil and gas

The Last Generation is calling for radical climate protection, including the complete renunciation of coal, oil and gas. They are calling for the conclusion of an international treaty to this effect. Since the beginning of 2022, the group has been organizing road blockades in which participants stick together.

In the meantime, however, it has announced that it will change its strategy and refrain from sticking in the future. The climate activists have also recently carried out several disruptive actions at airports, including at Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt at the end of July.

Tougher laws to act as a deterrent

The German government wants to tighten the Aviation Security Act to deter radical climate activists and other troublemakers from carrying out dangerous actions at airports.

At the heart of the planned reform, which still has to be decided on by the Bundestag, is the creation of a new provision that makes "intentional, unauthorized intrusion" on the tarmac and runways, among other things, a punishable offence - if it impairs the safety of civil air traffic.

SDA