Nasty surprise

Drosten: “I will no longer call the police”

Top German virologist Christian Drosten has achieved a stage victory in court, but he is not particularly pleased about it.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Pool/Michael Kappeler)

The corona crisis has made top German virologist Christian Drosten unintentionally known to a large audience. However, this also had extremely unpleasant consequences for him. Because of an acute threat in front of his child, he called the police for help in 2022. However, the result was extremely sobering for him.

Verbal abuse and nasty threats were almost part of everyday life for Drosten during the coronavirus pandemic. The renowned coronavirus expert explained during a court case in Germany that he was approached time and again. Even from people "who have obviously taken a wrong turn".

While he initially tried to talk to these people, he eventually switched to simply saying: "Please move on", "Die Zeit" quoted him as saying.

The incident took place long after the strict coronavirus restrictions had already been lifted and the pandemic had long passed its peak.

(Bild: APA/dpa/Kay Nietfeld)

Wild abuse at the campsite
However, one incident was particularly drastic. During a camping trip with his family north of Berlin, the scientist was walking across the campsite with his four-year-old son to brush his teeth. On the way there, they were approached by what was described as a gaunt man with a beer bottle in his hand. A roaring tirade of abuse followed: Drosten was the "biggest criminal of all time", a "mass murderer".

"If I had been alone, I would have smiled it off," Drosten continued, but in this case his child was standing next to him. But the argument didn't end there: the next day, the man's girlfriend confronted him. The woman had become increasingly insistent and aggressive, and Drosten had "the lives of children on his conscience", she is said to have said. His son was downright distraught, as he thought his father would have to go to prison, according to the corona denier.

Corona deniers get away without serious consequences
The consequence: Drosten called the police for help. A mistake, as he now gruellingly explained. The case ended up in court and was heard this week. The corona denying couple were also found guilty by the judge. They had publicly insulted Drosten and the man had also published photos of Drosten without his consent. However, the tirades against the scientist did not have any serious consequences. Both defendants were only given a warning. A fine is only suspended on probation.

"I won't call the police again, even if my children are threatened. Because the result is unacceptable to me," said Drosten, expressing his disappointment. Although he was relatively indifferent to the outcome of the proceedings, his only interest was that the police put an end to the situation, the FAZ quoted him as saying.

"I have no resentment, rather pity"
 Although it was not a mistake to call the police, he would think twice next time. What annoyed him most about the situation, however, were the false reports in various media. It was claimed that he had broken off his vacation, although the family had only ever wanted to stay one night. That was even more unpleasant than the questioning in court, he says.

The verdict also caused astonished reactions in politics:

In any case, the trial will go to the next instance. Both the public prosecutor's office and the defense lawyers have lodged an appeal - Drosten will therefore once again have to appear in court as a witness: "I have no grudge against these people, rather pity," Drosten made clear in advance.