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The Hamburg Senator for the Interior Andy Grote (SPD): 17 stickers removed
Photo: Daniel Bockwoldt / dpa
The controversy known as "Pimmelgate" has another chapter.
The Hamburg police were on duty on Friday to remove offensive stickers that strangers had placed near the apartment of Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD).
Among others, NDR and »Welt« report on this.
According to the police, officials on St. Pauli removed 17 yellow stickers denigrating Grote as a "dick".
A spokesman said that the operation was carried out on the one hand to avert danger, as there was a suspicion of insult, and on the other hand to preserve evidence.
At the beginning of the month, around 20 such stickers had been removed by the police in the vicinity of the senator's apartment.
The police state security is investigating the matter against unknown, it said.
On May 30th, Grote criticized the celebrating crowds in Hamburg's Schanzenviertel on Twitter.
His message triggered numerous reactions.
For example that of a user with the pseudonym »ZooStPauli« who wrote under Grotes Tweet: »You are such a dick.«
A Hamburg district court later approved the search of an accused's apartment.
The raid drew criticism, and even the police had doubts about the proportionality of the action.
"I have the feeling that sparrows are being shot here with cannons," said Horst Niens, Hamburg's chief of the police union.
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