Dobrindt for the use of preventive custody
After blockades and protests in Würzburg, Nuremberg and Regensburg, judges had recently ordered preventive custody for several activists at the request of the police – but mostly until the following day at most. CSU regional group chief Alexander Dobrindt called on Thursday for the continued use of the controversial measure, which is only permitted in Bavaria, to prevent further crimes. “Anyone who announces and carries out crimes and intentionally coerces masses of citizens is a criminal who must be countered with all means of the rule of law. Also with the means of preventive custody,” Dobrindt told the news portal “t-online”.
Bavaria’s Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich said that the rule of law could not accept crimes in the name of climate protection. “A crime is a crime – good intentions don’t change that,” said the CSU politician.
CSU General Secretary Martin Huber accused the last generation of fighting against mainstream society. “It’s good that action is being taken quickly and consistently in Bavaria,” Huber told the German Press Agency.
Police advise motorists to remain calm
The police in Munich had advised drivers not to overreact to the protests announced by the “last generation”. In an interview with the BR, the press spokesman for the Munich police headquarters, Andreas Franken, said: “Remain calm. Make sure you have something to drink with you in the car when you are on the road and if you have to wait longer.” Franken further emphasized: “It is the job of the police to prevent such disturbances.” He confirmed that the police also did not know where and when the protests would take place on Thursday: “That means we have to position ourselves relatively broadly – we have planned forces here today so that we can react accordingly and be flexible.”
Police want to react quickly
The police spokesman added: “We will not be able to be in all places at the same time, here in the city area.” According to Franken, the aim of the officials is to prevent possible crimes: “That means if we see somewhere that people want to stick themselves to the road, then we will try to prevent that if we are there in time. And otherwise we will decide on a case-by-case basis how we react, how we proceed.”
Increased actions in Bavaria in the past few days
In the past few days, the group had blocked roads in Würzburg, Nuremberg and Regensburg. Several members were therefore subsequently taken into longer custody. Yesterday, several activists dyed the water in the fountain in front of the new castle black on Herreninsel in Lake Chiemsee. The constitutional convention that drew up the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany met there 75 years ago.