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Police warn: barriers are not just "recommendations"
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Peter Kneffel / dpa
In Munich, on the sidelines of a rally by climate protection activists, clashes with the police broke out.
A police spokesman said about 100 demonstrators tried to break through a cordon at Theresienwiese.
To prevent this, the officers also used batons and pepper spray.
The demonstrators are protesting against the IAA Mobility auto show.
As early as Tuesday morning, demonstrators had posted banners on several motorways and some roped down from bridges. Because of this, highways had to be temporarily closed. Sometimes long traffic jams formed. The police said that 26 people involved were being investigated, among other things, for dangerous interference with road traffic and coercion - several of them were in custody. Representatives of the auto industry condemned the action.
Further blockades and disruptive actions at the IAA have been announced.
In a statement made by an alliance of climate activists on Friday, it said: "The IAA and the auto industry stand for an economic system in which profits are more important than the preservation of our natural livelihood." A police spokesman said that criminal offenses would be dealt with consistently.
Police barriers are not just "recommendations".
Diess sees itself wrongly criticized
In the meantime, a paint attack has been carried out on the private house of Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess.
Unknown perpetrators had written "expropriate this" in red on the entrance door of the building in Munich, said a VW spokesman.
According to "Business Insider," the perpetrators had left a letter in which Diess was described as a "representative of German auto capital."
Diess have filed a criminal complaint.
Diess had repeatedly faced discussions with environmentalists.
On the sidelines of a group event before the IAA, he discussed with representatives of the environmental organization Greenpeace.
He highlighted Volkswagen's investments in electromobility and called the lawsuit by environmental associations against the German carmaker unjustified.
The CEO said: "From my point of view, it makes no sense that we are at the center of the protests." Those who made profits from oil production and burning should be prosecuted.
The auto industry is making great efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
apr / dpa / Reuters
