Recent data released by German police on Thursday revealed a significant surge in violent attacks against climate protesters in Berlin this year compared to 2022.

According to authorities in the capital, a total of 66 investigations were initiated during the first five months of 2023, targeting motorists suspected of committing offenses against members of the activist group Last Generation.

This represents a notable increase when compared to the 18 investigations launched throughout the entirety of the previous year, the Associated Press reported.

Last Generation’s strategy of blocking streets has sparked frustration among some drivers, leading to instances of force being used to clear activists from the roads.

Certain tabloid newspapers have argued that such actions can be considered a form of self-defense.

However, Berlin daily Tagesspiegel, which initially reported the rise in attack statistics, cited a police spokesperson who stated that there was no evidence suggesting an increase in radicalization among motorists.

Instead, the spokesperson attributed the surge in attacks to the growing number of blockades taking place, indicating a potential correlation between the two.

Written by staff