Concrete mixer accident in Berlin: Police are investigating two climate activists

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Accident site in Berlin: emergency services with special equipment arrived late

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Paul Zinken / dpa

The police have started investigations after the rescue operation in Berlin, which is said to have been hampered by climate blockades.

They are aimed at two of the blockers, as a police spokesman said.

The target is a 63-year-old and a 59-year-old, who are being investigated for failure to provide assistance or the disability of persons providing assistance.

The "Berliner Zeitung" had previously reported on the investigation.

According to the spokesman, the activists are said to have stuck themselves to a sign bridge on the A100.

A 44-year-old cyclist was run over by a concrete mixer truck on Monday morning in Bundesallee and trapped under the car.

Fire brigade forces with special equipment were stuck in traffic due to protests by climate demonstrators on the A100 city motorway and only arrived late at the scene of the accident, which is why the accident site had to be improvised, as the fire brigade emphasized.

Police representation: "fairy tale of harmless protest"

The police union (GdP) sharply criticized the blockade action by climate protectionists.

»By now we should say goodbye to the fairy tale of harmless protest.

Anyone who blocks traffic routes risks and impedes the ability of internal security to act and also consciously accepts that people in need have to wait longer for help from the police and fire brigade," said spokesman Benjamin Jendro.

Berlin's Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) said it was now the task of the police and the courts to clarify to what extent the activists were to blame for the fact that the accident victim could not be helped more quickly.

The Green Transport Senator Bettina Jarasch said: "Climate protests must not endanger people."

The woman was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The 64-year-old driver of the concrete mixer was seriously injured with a knife by an initially unknown man immediately after the accident.

apr/dpa