2024-05-04 23:32:24
The Green Party politician Göring-Eckardt was forcibly prevented from returning home after an event. She demands more protection. The police operation is now being processed.
After the violent action against Green Party Vice-President Katrin Göring-Eckardt, the Brandenburg police have admitted possible deficiencies in their operations. “According to initial information, there may be indications that the forces were insufficient at the time of the incident,” said police headquarters spokeswoman Beate Kardels to the German Press Agency.
“Of course, our goal is for officials and elected officials to feel safe. This is another reason why this operation is being followed up. The findings should be taken into account for future operations.” Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) reported about it on Thursday.
The police union (GdP) defended the police’s actions against criticism from the Green politician. “The fact that a counter-demo is registered at a political event is not enough to generally and as a precaution draw a hundred people,” said GdP chairman Jochen Kopelke to the Editorial Network Germany (RND).
Göring-Eckardt: “This incident was no exception”
After the campaign, Göring-Eckardt called for better protection for political events. “The state police must urgently think about how they can secure political events in the country and agree on uniform criteria as to which standards they actually apply,” Göring-Eckardt also told the RND. “This incident was no exception.”
On Saturday, demonstrators harassed Göring-Eckardt’s car after an event in Lunow-Stolzenhagen in eastern Brandenburg and prevented her from leaving. Around 40 to 50 demonstrators had gathered in front of the event hall, as Göring-Eckardt’s office told the “Bild” newspaper. After the end of the event, the Bundestag Vice President was harassed on the way back to her vehicle. It was only when the police called for reinforcements that the departure was made possible after 45 minutes.
The police reported that a 19-year-old and a 26-year-old man sat in front and behind the company car and prevented it from leaving. According to a spokeswoman, the public prosecutor’s office in Frankfurt (Oder) is conducting an investigation into coercion against two accused because of the blockade.
GdP leader Kopelke now said: “The increasingly heated atmosphere at political events does not go unnoticed by the police.” It should be noted, however, that this event was also “ultimately able to be carried out” and that “police follow-up is taking place”. It is now important to find out whether the blockade of Göring-Eckardt’s vehicle had been prepared well in advance. He also pointed out that the police need time, especially in rural areas, to recruit additional forces.