The climate activists, some of whom have been in preventive custody by the Munich police since the beginning of November, are free again. That said a spokesman for the presidium on Saturday morning Süddeutsche Zeitung. The 19 women and men were able to leave the Stadelheim prison in the morning.
The police decided to release him on Friday evening after the climate protection organization “Last Generation” had declared that it would not take any further action in Munich until the beginning of December.
Andreas Franken, spokesman for the Munich police, said that this declaration was a “further building block” that led to the end of preventive detention: “The aim of the measure is to prevent crime.”
Thirteen activists had been in custody for weeks, six more since Monday. One of them, Wolfgang Metzeler-Kick, 48, had been on a hunger strike for 14 days.
According to the Munich police, the 19 people could have left the prison that night, but preferred to leave on Saturday. The 59-year-old Michael Winter, who had already been released on Thursday, explained according to “Last Generation” with a view to the Bundestag: “We are looking forward to the last week of the session in 2022 and we are still on the direct path to our own annihilation. The federal government is refusing its duty to protect people’s lives, thereby violating the Constitution.”
One now hopes for actions by the federal government in the next few days – among other things, the reintroduction of the nine-euro ticket and a speed limit are required. Aimée van Baalen, spokeswoman for the “Last Generation”, justified the interruption of the protests with a necessary “breather (…) to calm the heated spirits”. At the same time, the climate activists also want to “use the time to properly train and involve the many people who are currently joining the movement in order to come back with even more people”.
Theo Schnarr, also a spokesman for the group, added that “of course you can’t stop all the people who are pouring in all over the country and practicing the first road blockades in their plans.” For the previous focal points of the campaigns – Berlin and Munich – one could, however, assure free travel and flights.