In Germany on Wednesday~, authorities conducted raids at 15 different residences and seized assets as part of an investigation into the financing of rallies by the environmental activist group Last Generation, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors in Munich have revealed that they are looking into seven individuals, ranging in age from 22 to 38, on the suspicion that they have either formed or supported a criminal organization. They began the investigation after receiving a large number of criminal complaints beginning in the middle of 2022.
Their strategy has been subjected to severe criticism. On Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his opinion that he believed it was “completely nutty to somehow stick yourself to a painting or on the street.” He said this in response to a question. In an effort to put pressure on the German government to take more decisive action against climate change, members of the group Last Generation have regularly blocked roads around the country.
They have been sticking themselves to important crossings and motorways in Berlin for the past few weeks, which has resulted in the city’s traffic coming to a standstill virtually every day. Throughout the course of the previous year, they have also focused on a variety of works of art and displays.
The people who are under investigation are accused, according to the prosecutors, of organizing and pushing a campaign to “finance further criminal offenses” by the gang, and they are accused of collecting at least $1.5 million (or 1.4 million euros). Two of them are also suspected of attempting to damage an oil pipeline that links the city of Ingolstadt in Bavaria with the port of Trieste in Italy.
The searches that took place on Wednesday, which were followed by warrants to take two bank accounts and other assets, were conducted with the intention of obtaining evidence regarding the organization’s membership structure as well as its financial situation. There was not a single arrest made. Wednesday’s tweet on the organization’s Twitter feed read: “Nationwide raid. #completelynutty.” It stated, “Searches of lobby structures and seizures of the government’s fossil money — When?” Last Generation has admitted that their demonstrations are controversial, but the group maintains that through causing friction, it is able to stimulate debate about climate change among members of society.
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