19 “Last Generation” climate activists released from police custody

19 climate activists who were involved in tape-ups in Munich have been released from police custody. "We are constantly required to check the conditions for custody," said a spokesman for the Munich police headquarters on Saturday. "As a result, on Friday afternoon we came to the conclusion that the conditions for detention are no longer met, i.e. that further criminal offenses by those in custody are not to be expected, at least for the time being."

The group "Last Generation" announced on Friday after a sharply criticized protest action at Berlin Airport BER that it would initially refrain from further actions in Berlin and Munich. The group is responsible for several tape actions in the state capital, as a result of which police custody was ordered against participants.

Because the release order was not issued until Friday evening after the situation had been reassessed, the 19 activists – including 6 women – stayed in Stadelheim Prison overnight after consultation with those affected before they were released on Saturday morning. This means that all climate activists who were last in custody in Munich are free again. "There were people who had been in custody for a long time, but also some who had only been in custody for a short time," explained the police spokesman.

One of the men was on hunger strike, but police said he was not in critical condition, so he was released early with the others. Otherwise, according to the current status, some activists would have had to remain in custody until December 2nd. According to the Bavarian Police Responsibilities Act, citizens can be detained for up to one month on the basis of a judicial decision in order to prevent the commission of an administrative offense of considerable public importance or a criminal offence. This period can be extended by a maximum of one additional month.