Climate protests in Tyrol

A13 blockade: now criminal consequences loom!

On Thursday morning, Last Generation activists blocked the Brenner highway in the area of the Europabrücke bridge.

(Bild: Letzte Generation Österreich, Krone KREATIV)

The blockade of the Brenner highway on Thursday could have criminal consequences for the first time for the climate activists of the Last Generation. The Tyrolean police are investigating and will submit a statement of facts or a report "for criminal assessment" once the public prosecutor's office has completed its investigation.

On Thursday morning, climate activists from the Last Generation took part in their most dangerous protest action to date in Tyrol: the transit route par excellence, the A13 Brenner freeway, was blocked in the area of the Europabrücke bridge.

Blockade on the Brenner highway.

(Bild: Letzte Generation Österreich, Krone KREATIV)

A long traffic jam formed. In contrast to other actions, the police intervened quickly in this case. The blockade was broken up - one activist had stuck himself and had to be removed from the road. 

Grossly negligent endangerment of physical safety?
The life-threatening blockade could now have criminal consequences for the activists involved. The Tyrolean police are currently investigating grossly negligent endangerment of physical safety in accordance with Section 89 of the Criminal Code. It will then be the turn of the public prosecutor's office.

Such investigations are a "novelty" in Tyrol
This was confirmed to APA on Friday morning by Manfred Dummer, Head of Public Relations at the Tyrolean police force. This procedure is a "novelty", at least in Tyrol, according to Dummer. Specifically, it is being investigated whether gross negligence caused a particular danger to other road users.

"The line was definitely crossed"
The climate blockade on the Brenner freeway in the area of the Europabrücke bridge subsequently provoked strong political reactions. For the ÖVP, "a line has definitely been crossed". The FPÖ called for "all conceivable legal measures" to be taken. Deputy Governor Georg Dornauer (SPÖ) had already called for a rigorous crackdown by the police in an interview with "Krone".

The fun stops when it comes to emergency care.

LH Anton Mattle

Bild: Birbaumer Christof

On Friday, provincial governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) also spoke out. These actions "scare and lose people in the fight for climate protection, the energy and transport transition", Mattle told APA, because: "When it comes to emergency care, the fun stops." If there is a lack of common sense, "then the state must intervene", said the governor. If the police lack the legal tools, "then the federal government will have to hand them over."