Germany: Raids on 'Last Generation' environmental activists

The German police carried out on Wednesday 24 but in the morning a vast operation against the radical environmental movement "Last Generation" throughout the country. The movement is behind many actions blocking road traffic in Germany, methods that are causing controversy in the country.

Steve Rauhut, Aimee van Baalen, Marion Fabien and Joël Schmitt (from right to left) participate in a press conference of their collective Last Generation in Verlin, May 24, 2023 after police searches targeting activists. © Markus Schreiber / AP

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With our correspondent in Berlin, Nathalie Versieux

Accounts seized, assets locked, website and social media blocked: with the searches carried out on Wednesday morning, the Munich prosecutor's office hopes to gather evidence that would classify "last generation " among "terrorist associations".

The move is embarrassing for the German government, accused of doing too little for the climate. Caught between the anger of motorists embarrassed by the punch operations and the anger of young people, Olaf Scholz said this week, during a visit to a school, find it "totally stupid to stick to a board or a road".

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After this morning's searches and accusations that make us a criminal association, said Emi, one of the spokespeople of Last Generation, at an impromptu press conference this afternoon in Berlin, we ask ourselves: should we suffer a drought in Germany, suffer from famine, that our houses are swept away by water, that drinking water is running out, that drinking water is running out, so that we finally understand that the "Last Generation" is fighting for all of our lives, and that this is not criminal?

These climate activists, in fact, disturb in Germany, even among the Greens, associated with the government. To be sure, Berlin's climate goals are ambitious, with the goal of producing 80% green power by 2030. But these are goals that Germany will not be able to achieve, according to these young people, without a radically more voluntary policy.

► Read also: In Germany, the Protestant Church supports the actions of activists of "Last generation"

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