BERLIN (AP) — Climate Activists Halt Cargo Flights at German Airport
An overnight protest by climate activists at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany forced a three-hour halt to cargo flights, officials said Thursday. The demonstration, orchestrated by the Last Generation group, follows a series of similar actions at other major German airports, notably Cologne-Bonn and Frankfurt, the nation's busiest, which caused significant disruptions to passenger services.
Federal police reported that five activists from Last Generation attached themselves to the ground inside the airport perimeter shortly after midnight. Another two were prevented from doing the same, according to German news agency dpa. All were removed by approximately 5 a.m. The group clarified that their actions did not involve stepping onto the runways.
Leipzig/Halle Airport, recognized as a crucial air freight hub, saw its cargo operations suspended for about three hours beginning at 12:30 a.m. However, there was no significant impact on passenger flights, which do not operate during the night. The airport's schedule indicated that the first departure, a passenger flight, occurred at 5:41 a.m., slightly delayed by about 15 minutes.
Police detained the activists, who had breached the airport's perimeter fence by cutting a hole. Last Generation is pressing the German government to negotiate and sign an agreement for a global phase-out of oil, gas, and coal usage by 2030.
In response to such actions, the German Cabinet recently approved legislation that would impose stricter penalties on individuals who breach airport security. The proposed law, awaiting legislative approval, includes potential sentences of up to two years in prison for those who intentionally intrude on critical airport areas, such as taxiways or runways, thereby endangering civil aviation. Currently, such breaches are penalized with fines.