Public prosecutor to investigate after angry farmers' ferry blockade

DPA
·1 min read
Farmers prevent Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Germany's Economy Minister, from leaving a ferry. Habeck, Germany's vice chancellor and economy minister, finally made it to the German mainland early Friday, hours after angry farmers prevented him from exiting a passenger ferry travelling from a North Sea island. -/WestküstenNews/dpa
Farmers prevent Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Germany's Economy Minister, from leaving a ferry. Habeck, Germany's vice chancellor and economy minister, finally made it to the German mainland early Friday, hours after angry farmers prevented him from exiting a passenger ferry travelling from a North Sea island. -/WestküstenNews/dpa
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The public prosecutor in the German city of Flensburg has opened an investigation on suspicion of coercion following the blockade by a mob of angry farmers of a ferry with Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on board.

The office is also investigating whether other offences such as resisting law enforcement officers and breach of the peace have been committed, senior public prosecutor Bernd Winterfeldt told dpa on Friday.

An unknown person is currently being investigated, he added.

Demonstrators had prevented Habeck, who is also Germany's economy minister, from leaving a passenger ferry travelling from the North Sea island of Hallig Hooge on Thursday.

The police reported that up to 300 people took part in the protest.

Frank Schuhmacher, Production Manager at Landgesellschaft Lebus GmbH, holds a banner in front of his tractor during a protest by farmers against the planned cuts and cuts by the federal government. Patrick Pleul/dpa
Frank Schuhmacher, Production Manager at Landgesellschaft Lebus GmbH, holds a banner in front of his tractor during a protest by farmers against the planned cuts and cuts by the federal government. Patrick Pleul/dpa
Rubber boots hanging on a town sign during a protest by farmers against the planned cuts and cuts by the federal government. Patrick Pleul/dpa
Rubber boots hanging on a town sign during a protest by farmers against the planned cuts and cuts by the federal government. Patrick Pleul/dpa
The skull of a dead cow and a poster with the slogan "If there are no more farmers, your plates will remain empty" are attached to a tractor at a farmers' association rally against the German government's austerity plans. Stefan Puchner/dpa
The skull of a dead cow and a poster with the slogan "If there are no more farmers, your plates will remain empty" are attached to a tractor at a farmers' association rally against the German government's austerity plans. Stefan Puchner/dpa