Eco zealots target the Berlin marathon: Climate activists from ‘The Last Generation’ cause chaos by throwing orange paint and trying to block the course as 45,000 runners take part in event
- The protestors were soon removed from the course by police and volunteers
Activists from the climate group The Last Generation caused chaos at the Berlin marathon today by throwing orange paint and trying to block part of the course.
A group of protestors from The Letzte Generation, as they are called in German, ran onto the road and began spraying orange paint as thousands of athletes prepared to take part in the long distant event this morning.
They were soon removed from the course by police and volunteers at the event, in which 45,000 runners took part, minutes before the start of the race in the German capital.
One video posted to X shows the eco zealots running onto the track and spilling orange paint onto the asphalt. They are quickly tackled to the ground by police and volunteers with some later being carried off the road.
Despite the temporary dismay, the race continued as planned with Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge setting a world record time of 2:02:42, beating his own previous world record.
Activists from the climate group ‘The Last Generation’ caused chaos at the Berlin marathon today by throwing orange paint and trying to block part of the course
A group of protestors from the Letzte Generation ran onto the road and began spraying orange paint as thousands of athletes prepared to take part in the long distant event this morning
The eco zealots were seen running onto the track and spilling orange paint onto the asphalt before quickly being tackled to the ground by police and volunteers
Police officers detain activists of the ‘Letzte Generation’ at the start of the Berlin Marathon as they ran onto to the track from both sides and caused disruption
An activist from the climate group is carried away by police officers during the protest
Despite the temporary dismay, the race continued as planned with Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge (pictured centre) setting a world record time of 2:01:09
Traces of orange paint could be seen stained on the track following the incident, which was then corndoned off my marshalls who directed runners taking part in the 26 mile race around the area.
Pictures taken later in the day show some of the protestors being escorted away by police officers.
One can be seen covered in orange paint while another is shown wearing an orange high vis jacket.
In a post on X, which was originally written in German and has been translated to English, The Last Generation said: ‘Warning color on the track – we have to get out of the fossils by 2030 for a chance of survival.
‘Do you want to see us again at the next big event or do you finally want to listen to us? It’s also about you and everyone you love!
‘By the way: We are just as sorry to interrupt a craftsman’s everyday life as we are to interrupt a runner’s long-awaited competition.
‘We are doing this because we are in dire straits. In existential danger!’
According to German newspaper Bild the climate group had already announced on Friday that it would look to interrupt the marathon.
Another local news outlet, Welt, reported that were also further attempts by the group to disrupt theevent later in the day.
Police officers detain ‘Letzte Generation’ protestors following a demonstration during the Berlin Marathon
Police officers remove equipment from the ‘Letzte Generation’ demonstration including buckets of paint and a poster
Runners in action during the Berlin Marathon, with marshalls cordoning off part of the course that was struck with paint
Kipchoge became the first five time winner of the Berlin Marathon after setting a world record time of 2:02:42 hours.
The 38-year-old was joined on the podium by his compatriot Vincent Kipkemboi, who finished just 30 seconds behind him.
He secured a silver medal with a time of 2:03:13 while Ethiopian Tadese Takele who came third with a time of 2:03:24.
Tigist Assefa also set a new world record in the woman’s race after completing the 26 mile course in 2:11:52 hours.
The Ethiopian smashed the previous world record held by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei when she completed the 2019 Chicago marathon in 2:14:04 hours.
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