According to Berlin police, an attempt by the last generation to disrupt the marathon shortly before the start of the marathon in Berlin was thwarted. A total of eight people entered the route on Straße des 17. Juni from two sides and spilled orange paint, a police spokeswoman said on Sunday. They would have had banners from the Last Generation group with them.
Emergency services intervened before the activists could attach themselves. The police are now establishing the personal details and the activists’ freedom is initially restricted, the spokeswoman said. It will be examined to what extent they can then be taken into custody. “We are doing this because we are in an emergency situation. In existential danger!” wrote the Last Generation on Platform X about the campaign. “By the way: We are just as sorry to interrupt the everyday life of a craftsman as we are to interrupt the long-awaited competition of a runner.”
The group once again demanded that Germany stop using fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas from 2030 onwards. The federal government is aiming for a climate-neutral economy by 2045.
The last generation had announced that they wanted to interrupt the marathon. The activists protested with actions in Berlin throughout the week. The police and Berlin’s Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) had announced consistent action. The police wanted to deploy more than a thousand people at the marathon on Sunday. A week ago, activists sprayed the Brandenburg Gate near the marathon finish line with orange paint.
New world record: Ethiopian Tigst Assefa significantly improved the marathon record in Berlin. : Image: AFP
The Ethiopian Tigst Assefa significantly improved the marathon world record. The 29-year-old last year’s winner won on Sunday in an unofficial time of 2:11:52 hours and was clearly below the previous record set by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei, who ran 2:14:04 hours in Chicago in 2019.
Meanwhile, Eliud Kipchoge became the first runner to win the Berlin Marathon for the fifth time, but he clearly missed another world record. The 38-year-old Kenyan won in 2:02:42 hours ahead of his compatriot Vincent Kipkemoi and the Ethiopian Tadese Takele. Kipkemoi crossed the finish line in 2:03:13 hours, Takele ran 2:03:24 hours. Amanal Petros beat his German record in ninth place in 2:04:58 hours. The 28-year-old ran the 42.195 kilometers in Valencia on December 5, 2021 in 2:06:27.
Markus Wehner, Berlin Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 55 Nils Thies Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 9 A comment from Claudius Seidl Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 96
Last year, Kipchoge set the valid world record in 2:01:09 hours. Initially, the two-time Olympic champion was once again on course for a record, but was unable to maintain the high pace in perfect running conditions. At least he saved the success from the approaching pursuers to the finish and no longer has to share the number for the most victories in the German capital with the Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie.
