Climate activists in Germany blocked plane traffic at two airports on Thursday by gluing themselves to the runways in protest against mass transit pollution, causing hours of delays and dozens of cancelations.
"The Last Generation isn't protecting the climate, they're engaged in criminal activity," Transport Minister Volker Wissing said.
Last Generation, the group behind the protest, demanded tougher government action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and immediate plans to cut emissions in the transportation sector, accusing officials of lacking a strategy to tackle climate crisis.
"Instead of presenting a concrete plan to prevent this and to reach the emissions-reduction target called for by law, the Transport Ministry is relying on 'technological flexibility,'" the group wrote in a statement.
100 ENERGY, FARM INDUSTRY GROUPS LINE UP AGAINST BIDEN'S GAS VEHICLE CRACKDOWN
A federal police spokesperson said Hamburg Airport had suspended flights at around 6 a.m. after nine unauthorized people entered the airfield and eight of them had glued themselves to the tarmac.
Seven people entered the airfield at Düsseldorf Airport, with all of them succeeding in gluing themselves to the runway, but after several hours authorities had unstuck half of the protesters.
Hamburg overall delayed, canceled or diverted 46 flights, German outlet DW reported. The protest occurred as the first day of school summer vacations began in the city.
NANTUCKET ON EDGE AS SWIMMING BANNED AT CERTAIN BEACHES AMID SHARK SIGHTINGS: WATCH
The activists will face charges of disturbing the peace, coercive behavior and dangerous interference with aviation, the police said.
Transport Minister Wissing and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann accused the protesters of dividing society by "ruining the well-earned and long-looked-forward-to annual vacations of others."
Wissing has blocked several proposals to cut emissions from air and road travel in recent years, according to The Associated Press.
UK CLIMATE ENVOY CALLS RAPID GREEN TRANSITION ‘IDIOTIC’ DURING MEETINGS WITH JOHN KERRY
Last Generation insists its protests are peaceful, albeit disruptive, though motorists facing delays when the group blocks roads have at times attacked the activists.
German prosecutors raided the homes of several of the group’s members in May on suspicion of forming or supporting a criminal organization.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
