Raids in Germany over art protest by climate activists

BERLIN (AA) - Police on Thursday searched several apartments in the German state of Saxony as part of an investigation into a protest in which climate activists are accused of damaging public property.

In August, two climate activists from the Last Generation group glued themselves to the frame of the Sistine Madonna, a world-famous painting by Italian artist Rafael, at a gallery in Dresden.

Raids were carried out in Leipzig “to find evidence in connection with the crime,” according to a statement from Dresden prosecutors.

Such protests by climate activists have been drawing increasing criticism in Germany.

German sociologist Nils Kumkar recently told public broadcaster BR that “these roadblocks annoy urban society.”

He said earlier forms of action by environmental groups, such as blocking the transport of nuclear waste or protesting near coal mines, were “more self-explanatory in comparison.”

“It was clear then that, at a certain point, you drive up costs and try to generate pressure and attention,” said Kumkar.

There has also been criticism in political circles.

“In a democratic constitutional state, you don’t go out and push your own agenda against law and order,” Joachim Herrmann, interior minister for the state of Bavaria, said during a talk show on public broadcaster ARD.

“In a democracy, you also don’t try to blackmail governments or parliaments by saying: We will now continue to commit crimes if you don’t do what we tell you!”