Climate Activists Ground Cargo Flights at Leipzig/Halle Airport

Climate activists from the Last Generation group halted cargo flights at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany for three hours. Officials detained five activists, who had cut through the perimeter fence. Last Generation demands the German government to cease using oil, gas, and coal by 2030.

An overnight protest by climate activists at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany led to a three-hour suspension of cargo flights, officials announced Thursday.

The action by the Last Generation group trailed demonstrations at Cologne-Bonn and Frankfurt airports, greatly disrupting passenger flights at Germany's busiest hubs.

Federal police report that five activists chained themselves to the ground inside the airport perimeter shortly after midnight, while two others were prevented from doing so, according to the German news agency dpa. They were removed by 5 a.m. Last Generation clarified they did not venture onto the runways.

Being a crucial air freight hub, Leipzig/Halle had to pause cargo movements from 12:30 a.m. for about three hours. Passenger flights remained largely unaffected as they do not operate during the night. One plane departed at 5:41 a.m., 15 minutes later than scheduled.

Police detained the activists, who breached the perimeter fence. Last Generation is urging the German government to agree to a global phase-out of oil, gas, and coal by 2030.

Recently, the German Cabinet approved a law that would impose harsher penalties, including prison sentences of up to two years, on individuals who illegally enter airport perimeters.

(With inputs from agencies.)