In Munich, nine opponents of the International Motor Show IAA Mobility remain in police custody until the end of the fair. The application of the so-called preventive detention, anchored in the Bavarian Police Task Act, was confirmed by a spokesman for the Erding District Court at the request of the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation.
Police see a risk of repetition
The nine activists were involved in the poster and abseiling campaigns on several highways around Munich yesterday and were subsequently arrested. Among other things, they had pasted over exit signs with notices such as “Traffic collapse 2000 meters”. The precautionary detention lasts until Sunday evening. Then the IAA ends.
A court spokesman said the police’s requests were granted in nine out of ten cases because the actions on the highways were planned and prepared. Therefore, in the opinion of the police, there is a risk of repetition. According to the group, two of the people taken into custody are members of the Passau Climate Camp.
Activists defend themselves through lawyers
In total, the police are taking action against 24 people involved. The accused were reported on suspicion of coercion and dangerous interference with road traffic. According to the Erding District Court, there are already several complaints against so-called preventive detention. The protesters do not see any dangerous interference with road traffic in the poster campaigns on top of the blue motorway signs.
Investigator: Traffic is irritated
From the point of view of the Munich public prosecutor’s office, however, it is sufficient for the criminal offense of “dangerous interference in road traffic” if such protest actions cause braking maneuvers that could cause accidents, according to a spokeswoman for the BR. Munich’s Vice President Michael Dibowski called the protest “irresponsible”. The “self-proclaimed activists” accepted the risk to human life and put themselves as well as bystanders and emergency services in danger.
Entry bans for activists
With a total of eleven people, the authorities are expecting “according to current assessments and intensive testing” to carry out further actions as on Tuesday. In addition to the nine people already arrested for prevention (five women and four men), the question of detention for two activists is still open. Eight people were dismissed after the complaint was reported. For them, entry bans have been issued for the entire event area of the IAA Mobility.
Police Tasks Act passed in July 2021
According to Art. 17 Paragraph 1.2, the Police Tasks Act (PAG) permits precautionary detention if it is essential to prevent imminent criminal offenses or administrative offenses that are significant for the general public. The application of this provision has now affected the nine bridge climbers. The precautionary detention is an important point of criticism of the Bavarian opposition parties against the PAG. In the most recent amendment, the maximum duration of this preventive detention to be ordered by the judge was limited to two months. It was adopted in July 2021.