The German police conducted a series of searches in the case of financing the organization "The Last Generation", which is known for scandalous actions in defense of the environment. According to the Associated Press, searches took place at 15 addresses in different regions of the country, in addition, two bank accounts and other assets were arrested.
The prosecutor's office in Munich said that an investigation is underway against seven people who are suspected of creating or supporting a criminal organization. In particular, we are talking about collecting €1.4 million, presumably to finance further criminal activity. In addition, two of the defendants are suspected of attempting to sabotage an oil pipeline that runs from the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt to the Italian port of Trieste. The reason for opening the case was the numerous complaints received by the "Last Generation". The police made no arrests.
Activists of the group regularly block roads in Germany, demanding that the government take more drastic measures to combat global climate change. In recent weeks, AP notes, they've been shutting down traffic in Berlin almost daily, gluing themselves to busy motorways. The group's actions were criticized by the German government, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz calling them "completely insane".
In addition, representatives of the "Last Generation" have repeatedly staged actions in museums, dousing paintings with various liquids and sticking themselves to surfaces. So, last year, activists poured mashed potatoes on a painting by Claude Monet in a museum in Potsdam, black paint on a painting by Gustav Klimt in Vienna, and peas soup – a painting by Vincent van Gogh in Rome. The last high-profile action took place on May 21, when protesters poured black paint into the Trevi Fountain in the Italian capital.