(new: details)

SCHKEUDITZ (dpa-AFX) - Several climate activists have protested at Leipzig/Halle Airport and caused cargo flight operations to be suspended for hours. Five of them had stuck themselves to the ground in the southern section of the airport shortly after midnight, while two others were prevented from doing so, according to a spokesman for the federal police. The officers discovered holes in the fence at the edge of the site. At around 5.00 a.m., the activists were dislodged from the ground and removed from the tarmac. The "Last Generation" group claimed responsibility for the disruption.

According to an airport spokesperson, cargo flight operations had to be suspended for around three hours from around 00:30. In the morning, one of two runways was said to be open for operations. Passenger flight operations began with slight delays: According to the website, the first plane took off at 5.41 a.m. - around 15 minutes later than planned.

Leipzig/Halle Airport claims to be the fourth-largest hub for air freight in Europe, handling around 1.4 million tons of freight every year.

The "Last Generation" group announced that they wanted to make a statement on the tarmac against increasing air traffic, the planned expansion of airport capacity and the lack of a plan by the German government to rapidly phase out fossil fuels.

A post by the group on Platform X states: "Today's blockade primarily affects cargo traffic - the night flight ban has been suspended for this traffic." The post was accompanied by photos showing activists on the tarmac, in at least one case with their hands glued to the ground. Their signs read: "Oil kills".

The activists are now being investigated for unauthorized presence in the security area, trespassing and interfering with air traffic, among other things, said a spokesperson for the Federal Police.

Actions at several airports

Last week, climate demonstrators at both Frankfurt Airport and Koln/Bonn Airport brought flight operations to a standstill for a few hours. There was also a peaceful protest at Stuttgart Airport without any restrictions on air traffic. As a result, Leipzig Airport, among others, announced that it would be taking security precautions. Security forces have been sensitized and will act with increased vigilance, it said./agy/DP/ngu