Man held after car driven into German chancellery gates
German police said Wednesday they have detained a man who drove a car into the gate of the German chancellery in
central Berlin on Wednesday, in what appeared to be a protest.
"The car stands at the gate. We are looking at whether he knowingly steered it there," a police spokeswoman told AFP, adding that it was unclear whether there had been any damage.
"Stop globalisation politics" was painted on one side of the dark green Volkswagen while on the driver's side, "you damned children- and old-people murderers" was scrawled.
The vehicle, which did not look damaged, touched the gates where concrete slates were raised as an additional security precaution preventing any vehicles from forcing their way into the site of Chancellor Angela Merkel's office.
Police spokesman Thilo Cablitz would not comment on possible motives of the driver.
"Whether it was a symbolic act or whether it was to seek attention" is something for investigators to determine, he said.
German media reported that the same vehicle had sought to drive into the security perimeter in 2014, in what then appeared to be a protest against global warming.
The car then bore the slogan "stop climate change which is killing people".
A 48-year-old man was taken into custody over that incident.
Comments
See Also
"The car stands at the gate. We are looking at whether he knowingly steered it there," a police spokeswoman told AFP, adding that it was unclear whether there had been any damage.
"Stop globalisation politics" was painted on one side of the dark green Volkswagen while on the driver's side, "you damned children- and old-people murderers" was scrawled.
The vehicle, which did not look damaged, touched the gates where concrete slates were raised as an additional security precaution preventing any vehicles from forcing their way into the site of Chancellor Angela Merkel's office.
Police spokesman Thilo Cablitz would not comment on possible motives of the driver.
"Whether it was a symbolic act or whether it was to seek attention" is something for investigators to determine, he said.
German media reported that the same vehicle had sought to drive into the security perimeter in 2014, in what then appeared to be a protest against global warming.
The car then bore the slogan "stop climate change which is killing people".
A 48-year-old man was taken into custody over that incident.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.