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Arrest after protest action: An activist of the "last generation" is in police custody, before the party headquarters of the FDP was daubed
Photo: MICHELE TANTUSSI / AFP
The protest actions of the "Last Generation" are controversial and are increasingly causing debates.
After blockade actions and attacks on works of art by the group, the Union apparently wants to impose tougher penalties on its activists in the future.
According to a report in "Bild am Sonntag", a corresponding application, which is to be submitted next week, is currently being prepared.
Road blockers who obstruct the passage of the police, fire brigade and rescue services should therefore face a minimum prison sentence in the future, and activists should be able to be arrested as a preventive measure if there is a risk of recurrence.
For the damage or destruction of cultural assets, the Union is also demanding a minimum sentence of imprisonment instead of the fine that has been in force up to now.
"Climate protest must not be a license to commit crimes," said the head of the CSU deputy in the Bundestag, Alexander Dobrindt, the "Bild am Sonntag".
“Substantially tougher penalties are needed for climate chaos in order to counteract further radicalization in parts of this climate movement and to deter imitators.
The emergence of a climate RAF must be prevented.” Dobrindt was referring to the Red Army Faction (RAF).
For decades, the RAF were considered the epitome of terror and murder in the Federal Republic.
More than 30 people fell victim to left-wing terrorists between the 1970s and the early 1990s.
Government does not want to talk about terrorism
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit had on Wednesday distanced himself from the term "terrorism" for actions by climate activists.
Graffiti is a misdemeanor, but Hebestreit said he did not want to advocate the term terrorism.
He had been asked if "Last Generation" actions were slowly declining into a form of terrorism.
In Berlin, a cyclist was hit and run over by a truck last Monday.
According to the fire brigade, a special vehicle that was supposed to help free the injured person under the truck was stuck in a traffic jam on the city highway.
This is said to have been triggered by an action by the climate protest group »Last Generation«.
However, the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" reported, citing a deployment note, that according to the emergency doctor treating it, the fact that the car was not available had no effect on the rescue of the injured woman.
According to the police and the public prosecutor's office, the cyclist died on Thursday from her serious injuries.
Berlin's governing mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) told the "Bild am Sonntag" when asked how long politicians would allow climate activists: "We will take action.
There are more than 700 criminal proceedings against climate activists in Berlin, only one of which has been discontinued so far.
More than 240 penal orders have already been issued.” Referring to the cyclist, who has since died, she said the “terrible event” must be a wake-up call for all those who speak of peaceful protests.
"Critical protest is part of democracy, but it definitely crosses any line when it endangers human life."
asc/dpa