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Police officers during a demonstration before the start of political Ash Wednesday.
© Silas Stein/dpa
For many suspected participants in the riots in Biberach, the day of protest has legal repercussions.
Police investigators in Ulm have so far taken action against more than a dozen of them.
Biberach - After the riots before the Greens' political Ash Wednesday in Biberach, more than a dozen investigations have been initiated against those suspected of being involved in the escalated protests.
According to Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU), one of them concerns, among other things, the suspicion of a serious breach of the peace, while eight other criminal proceedings concern alleged physical attacks on police officers and others.
Three criminal cases allege damage to property, two cases are being investigated for violating the Explosives Act and once for holding an unregistered meeting.
“In addition, the police are investigating other crimes, namely coercion, suspicion of prisoner release, suspicion of dangerous bodily harm, dangerous interference with road traffic and other traffic offenses as well as disorderly conduct,” said Strobl on Tuesday.
He had previously informed the Council of Ministers about the police operation in Biberach.
On Wednesday (2 p.m.) the CDU minister will answer questions from the state parliament's interior committee.
The Greens canceled their event last Wednesday in Biberach at short notice due to security concerns after a demonstration got out of hand.
Among other things, farmers dumped a pile of dung in front of the steps to the town hall and blocked streets with paving stones and sandbags.
Several police officers were injured during the protests.
A 20-person investigative group at Ulm police headquarters called “Riß” has since then been taking action against the suspected demonstrators.
“Almost all of the disruptions came from the unannounced meeting in front of the town hall,” said Strobl.
It's about blockades, attacks on police officers and damage to company vehicles, but also about a burning bale of hay.
“None of this is definitely not possible and has consequences,” threatened the minister.
Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann summarizes the consequences of last Wednesday even further: He sees the sometimes violent protests as an attack on society as a whole.
“No matter who is affected in an individual case - if that happens, we as a free society as a whole have lost,” said the Green politician at the state government’s New Year’s reception in Brussels on Monday evening.
Kretschmann called for solidarity from the other democratic parties.
“I expect clarity and attitude - from all sides.
Especially with a view to the local and European elections this year.” The events in Biberach are also a signal to all democratic forces for moderation, understanding and balance.
“I am firmly convinced that this is exactly what the majority in our country wants: respectful cooperation,” said Kretschmann.
Protest should be loud and polemical, but should never become threatening or turn into violence.
dpa