Up to 1,500 police officers were deployed during the days-long protests against US car manufacturer Tesla in Grünheide. An initial estimate of the costs of the operation is now available.
According to an estimate by the Brandenburg CDU, the police operation in the protests against the US electric car manufacturer Tesla caused costs running into millions. “We are assuming (…) a high single-digit or low double-digit million amount,” said CDU state parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann in Potsdam. “More than 1,000 police officers from all over Germany also cost a lot of money.” However, the final costs have not yet been determined. Redmann called for the police to be given more legal options, including video surveillance combined with artificial intelligence to identify troublemakers at an early stage.
Up to 2,000 activists protested against the factory in Grünheide near Berlin from Wednesday to Sunday and warned of environmental dangers that Tesla rejects. According to their own information, the police deployed up to 1,500 forces from a total of 13 countries. The operation sometimes led to clashes between activists and the police. The police took 23 people into custody and 27 officers were injured. On Friday, activists tried to break into the factory premises. The police stopped this.
Since February, climate activists have been protesting in a camp with tree houses near the car factory against the planned expansion of the Tesla site. The police want to ensure that the tree houses are dismantled. A legal dispute is currently underway.
The SPD in the Brandenburg state parliament called on the demonstrators to clear the protest camp in the forest in view of the current highest level of forest fire risk. “Accordingly, we should also appeal to the responsibility of the demonstrators and leave this forest,” said parliamentary group leader Daniel Keller. He pointed out dangers such as cooking in the forest.
Source: Stern
