Several members of the “Last Generation” climate activist group have been banned from the island of Sylt following a protest at the local airport. The ban, enforced by police, restricts their presence on the island until August 23, though authorities clarify that not all incoming travelers by train, ferry, or plane will be routinely checked.
Activists receive 14-day ban from Sylt after airport protest
After an incident at Sylt Airport, where members of the controversial “Last Generation” group attempted to spray paint a private jet and glued themselves to the tarmac, the local authorities responded with a 14-day ban from the island. A spokesperson from the Flensburg police confirmed, “The ban applies until August 23.”
Despite the ban, not all people arriving on the holiday island by train, ferry, or airplane will be subjected to checks, as the police noted that such measures would be disproportionate given the personnel required. Instead, compliance with the ban will be monitored as part of the police’s daily presence on the island. “Should the individuals be encountered during patrols or police operations on the island, appropriate measures will be taken,” the spokesperson added.
Prosecutors investigate Sylt airport incident
The Flensburg Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating three members of the “Last Generation” alliance for property damage and trespassing. According to a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, none of the three activists are from Schleswig-Holstein. The date for court proceedings remains undecided.
On August 10, two activists from the radical climate group briefly glued themselves to the ground beside a private jet at Sylt Airport. Their attempt to spray paint the aircraft was thwarted by quick intervention from airport staff. A third activist was stopped by police at the airport fence and subsequently detained. The women who glued themselves to the tarmac were also removed and taken away in a police vehicle. The group had cut a hole in the airport fence to gain access to the area.
Previous actions on Sylt
According to Christian Bergemann, a spokesperson for the “Last Generation,” the activists intended to spray the words “Oil kills” on the private jet. The group believes that millionaires and billionaires contribute disproportionately to climate change and that owners of private jets, limousines, and superyachts will not voluntarily stop using them. To reduce these emissions, the group argues that legislation is necessary.
This is not the first time the group has targeted Sylt. In June 2023, five individuals sprayed a private jet with orange paint and glued themselves to the tarmac at the same airport. The Flensburg Prosecutor’s Office estimated that this earlier incident caused at least one million euros in damage to the aircraft alone.
