Cologne, August 15, 2024, The Europe Today: Cologne, Bonn Airport, one of Germany’s busiest passenger hubs, announced on Thursday morning that it had temporarily suspended operations following an “unauthorized intrusion.” Police confirmed that a hole had been cut in the airport’s perimeter fence, prompting the shutdown.
Later in the day, Nuremberg Airport also paused operations due to a protest. Both incidents were linked to demonstrations by the climate activist group Letzte Generation, or “Last Generation,” which had announced plans to stage protests at several German airports this week. The group shared footage of their members blocking runways in Cologne and Stuttgart and reported demonstrations in Berlin.
By Thursday afternoon, both Nuremberg and Cologne had resumed services but warned passengers to expect delays. In Berlin and Stuttgart, police arrested activists without disrupting airport traffic.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the protesters’ actions, calling them “dangerous and stupid” in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. She added that the ministry is proposing severe prison sentences for such actions and is requiring airports to significantly enhance their security measures.
