Protests at IAA: taz journalist arrested by police

A journalist for the daily newspaper "taz" was temporarily detained by the police during protests against the IAA motor show in Munich in the vicinity of a squatting in Karlstrasse, near the old town. The police announced on Friday evening at a press conference in Munich that he entered a house without authorization and was suspected of having committed trespassing. That is why the man was brought to the police headquarters for further processing. He has since been released. "Even the press card does not protect against being able to commit crimes."

The "taz" reported on its website that it was one of its freelance colleagues. He was released after more than three hours in custody. The report also said: “However, the Munich police excluded him from further reporting. He was given an address to pose a threat and a ban on entering all event areas at the IAA. "

The editor-in-chief of the Berlin-based newspaper informed the German Press Agency (dpa): Of course, the press has the right to accompany activists in their protest actions and to document what is happening.

“This not only serves to protect the protesters against possible police attacks.

It must be in the public's interest to know what is actually happening.

That would not be possible without a free local press. "

The German Union of Journalists dju in Verdi spoke on Twitter of some “scandalous behavior” by the police around the IAA and of the detention of journalists the day before.

During protests against the IAA Mobility auto show, there had previously been clashes with the police. The officials used batons and pepper spray against demonstrators several times on Friday. Activists and politicians criticized the practice while the police defended it. The IAA opponents demonstrated on several of the action areas of the auto show called Open Spaces in the city center and at times blocked a motorway again. The night before, the private home of VW CEO Herbert Diess in Munich was the target of a color attack.

The area where Oktoberfest normally takes place is a camp run by IAA critics, from which hundreds of activists and other demonstrators left. The police were there with a large contingent, the number of officers, according to observers, significantly exceeded that of the demonstrators.