The Castor, a transport of nuclear waste, is going through Germany again. Several thousand people are protesting all over Germany. Near the route of the transport a protest camp is set up in Metzingen. Last night a street blockade with burning hay bales was set up.
burning hay bales are blocking the street
At about 9pm Saturday night about 70 police officers in riot gear charged at small groups of activists walking between the camp and the street blockade. Getting scared of the charging cops, the people started running toward the camp, followed by the police units. Cops were hitting randomly everyone who got in their way.
The officers advanced into the camp before being stopped in the yard and finally being pushed back. Later a lost police gun was returned to the officer in charge.
In the beginning of the street blockade near the camp Widerstandsnest Metzingen the police had settled on redirecting the traffic. From 9:15 onwards even this effort was made impossible by a burning blockade on the diversion route. The atmosphere of the lantern walk in Metzingen underwent a sudden change at about 9pm. Police units from Ost-Holstein, Oldenburg, Hanover and Cologne were drawn from all directions. Two units in riot gear, both with about 100 officers each, were lining up to charge over the Blumenacker. Lots of the protesters, not prepared for anything like this, started running away as fast as possible.
The entrance into the village is usually marked as the beginning of a cop free zone. Normally this is respected by the police, ever since a meddlesome police van got trapped inside last year. During the attack last night the police did not only cross that line, but advance towards the inner yard.
By that time enough people had realised what was happening. A strong block was formed and succeeded in stopping the invasion. Step by step the police were pushed back. On their retreat the police were followed, mostly by locals demanding the release of the arrested people. This was achieved after some - occasionally very angry - back and forth.
The following camp meeting had to discuss a request by the police: in the confusion of the police operation a police gun had gotten lost. The police would hope to find the gun as fast as possible, favourably without any further hassle. They would appreciate all help that leads to the recovery of the weapon.
A clinking sound had drawn peoples' attention to something dropping from a running police officer's pocket. To avoid incidents they took the found object to a safe place. After a closer examination had shown that the Heckler&Koch had fallen so unfortunately that it had become useless, it was turned over to a lawyer who then returned it to the police.
At the public presentation of the weapon, the lawyer commented on the disproportional police procedure against demonstrations. The officer in charge found nice words of regret for the police operation. He did not understand how this could have possibly happened. Personally he wanted to thank everyone for their responsible way of dealing with the situation. He validated it as a contribution to the deescalation of the situation.
Sadly he did not respond to the demand to give back earlier confiscated tractors in return.
The officers advanced into the camp before being stopped in the yard and finally being pushed back. Later a lost police gun was returned to the officer in charge.
In the beginning of the street blockade near the camp Widerstandsnest Metzingen the police had settled on redirecting the traffic. From 9:15 onwards even this effort was made impossible by a burning blockade on the diversion route. The atmosphere of the lantern walk in Metzingen underwent a sudden change at about 9pm. Police units from Ost-Holstein, Oldenburg, Hanover and Cologne were drawn from all directions. Two units in riot gear, both with about 100 officers each, were lining up to charge over the Blumenacker. Lots of the protesters, not prepared for anything like this, started running away as fast as possible.
The entrance into the village is usually marked as the beginning of a cop free zone. Normally this is respected by the police, ever since a meddlesome police van got trapped inside last year. During the attack last night the police did not only cross that line, but advance towards the inner yard.
By that time enough people had realised what was happening. A strong block was formed and succeeded in stopping the invasion. Step by step the police were pushed back. On their retreat the police were followed, mostly by locals demanding the release of the arrested people. This was achieved after some - occasionally very angry - back and forth.
The following camp meeting had to discuss a request by the police: in the confusion of the police operation a police gun had gotten lost. The police would hope to find the gun as fast as possible, favourably without any further hassle. They would appreciate all help that leads to the recovery of the weapon.
A clinking sound had drawn peoples' attention to something dropping from a running police officer's pocket. To avoid incidents they took the found object to a safe place. After a closer examination had shown that the Heckler&Koch had fallen so unfortunately that it had become useless, it was turned over to a lawyer who then returned it to the police.
At the public presentation of the weapon, the lawyer commented on the disproportional police procedure against demonstrations. The officer in charge found nice words of regret for the police operation. He did not understand how this could have possibly happened. Personally he wanted to thank everyone for their responsible way of dealing with the situation. He validated it as a contribution to the deescalation of the situation.
Sadly he did not respond to the demand to give back earlier confiscated tractors in return.
