Several people took the train connection on Monday morning Mercedes-Plant in Bremen blocked. Some of them chained themselves to the tracks, a police spokesman said. After almost seven hours, investigators were able to end the blockade.
Four people occupied the entrance to the site from 6:20 a.m. to stop car transporters. The police also temporarily closed the railway line between Hanover and Bremen. “This was a prophylactic measure,” said a police spokesman. Investigators feared that other activists could be near the tracks. Shortly before eight o’clock the regional trains were running again, but travelers still had to expect delays. The blockade on the tracks to Mercedes was cleared around 1 p.m.
At the same time as the action, two masked people with climbing harnesses climbed onto the roof of the car manufacturer’s building, the police said. There they unrolled a poster. The two activists from the canopy rappelled down independently. All six had to temporarily go to the station on Monday afternoon.
Activists from the climate movement “Disrupt Now” claimed responsibility for the protest. “The climate crisis is getting worse and yet Mercedes continues to produce masses of raw material and energy-consuming cars for private transport out of profit interests,” said activist Marla Denke. “The biggest profit margin comes from large, heavy luxury cars for the rich. But even isolated in SUVs, you can’t drive away from the climate catastrophe!”
In response to a request from manager magazin, Mercedes-Benz announced that production at the Bremen plant and vehicle delivery to the customer center had not been affected. “Peaceful protest is legitimate. We welcome constructive contributions. However, we condemn actions that endanger people or damage property,” said a company spokeswoman. Climate protection is a key cornerstone of Mercedes-Benz’s sustainable corporate strategy; the course towards balance sheet CO₂ neutrality for the new car fleet has long been set.