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Six of the activists glued themselves to a runway, a police
spokesperson said, adding the situation was now under control,
with both of the airport's runways open for arrivals and
takeoffs.
Climate group Last Generation, which has carried out similar
protests in the past, said it was responsible for the action in
a series of posts on X showing members on what appeared to be a
runway or tarmac with protest signs.
The group later said six individuals had seated themselves on
airport asphalt at 4:45 a.m. local time (0245 GMT) to block
planes, and it criticized Berlin for subsidizing airlines at the
expense of rail.
"Problem is the government, not our holiday," one of the signs
read.
Germany's interior minister, Nancy Faeser, said security
measures at the airport would be reviewed.
"Such criminal actions endanger air traffic and harm climate
protection because they only cause contempt and anger," she
wrote on X.
"The perpetrators must be vigorously pursued," she said.
Germany's transport minister, Volker Wissing, said new laws were
needed to punish such actions as criminal, with up to two years
in prison. Current laws classify them as minor offences.
An airport spokesperson said the airport had been fully closed
to takeoffs and landings for nearly two hours. Some 11 flights
had been diverted, around 60 had been cancelled, and delays were
still possible, the person said.
The disruption occurred during one of the busiest travel periods
for the airport in southern Germany, second only to the Easter
holidays, according to the airport.
(Reporting by Tom Sims; Editing by William Mallard and Mark
Potter)
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