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CRIME

Swede held for dramatic 1995 German bank robbery

A 32-year-old Swede has been arrested on suspicions of having participated in the spectacular 1995 robbery of a bank in Berlin.

The robbers fled police through an underground tunnel.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the man in Germany for being an accomplice in the remarkable theft, which took place when he was only 19-years-old.

Thieves made off with the equivalent of 16.3 million Deutsch marks, ($12.4 million), 10 million Deutsch marks of which was never recovered.

“The man now arrested is suspected of having helped dig the tunnel,” said Berlin public prosecutor’s office spokesperson Michael Grunwald.

During the afternoon of June 27th, 1995, four masked and armed men entered a bank branch in the Zehlendorf neighbourhood of southern Berlin.

They took 16 customers and employees hostage, laid out hand grenades in front of the door, and demanded 17 million Deutsch marks, a car, and a safe getaway.

They later received 5.6 million marks, and managed to get the rest from within the bank by breaking open 207 of 400 bank vaults.

What police didn’t know at the time was that there were actually six robbers in the bank. Two more had entered through an underground tunnel.

The thieves then used the tunnel to escape.

When police stormed the bank they found only the entrance to the 170 metre long tunnel. It was later described in an investigation as “a masterpiece of construction”, and included electricity lines, lighting, and fans.

So far six men have been convicted for the bank robbery. Many of them have already served their sentences.

During the spring, the 32-year-old man, who has lived in Sweden for many years, came to the attention of German authorities. A European arrest warrant was issued instructing Swedish authorities to extradite the man to Germany.

A warrant for the man was issued on May 26th, he was arrested a few days later and is being held by Swedish police.

Swedish lead prosecutor Ulf Forsberg won’t comment more on the suspicions in Germany against the 32-year-old or why German police suspect him.

TT

BERLIN

Disruption on roads in Berlin as farmers stage fresh protest

Farmers in Germany launched fresh protests in Berlin on Friday to call for the government to support agriculture, resulting in disruption across the city.

Disruption on roads in Berlin as farmers stage fresh protest

Berlin police said there were “considerable traffic disruptions” across the city and the outskirts and especially around Straße des 17. Juni, the government district and the Bundesrat .

Since Thursday morning, Straße des 17. Juni and other streets around the government district in Berlin-Tiergarten have been closed. There will also be closures on Leipziger Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Platz through Friday.

A planned rally is due to take place from 12 noon to 5pm on Friday with tractors and lorries around Platz des 18. März, near Brandenburg Gate. 

The action is being held to protest the government’s agricultural policies.

It comes as relief measures – including reduced bureaucracy and tax relief for farmers – went to the Bundesrat on Friday to be voted on as part of the Growth Opportunities Act.

However, farmers are still pushing for their original demand of fully keeping the agricultural diesel subsidy.

READ ALSO: Analysis: Why are German farmers so angry?

Farmers in Germany have been staging similar protests against the policies of the government since the start of the year.

Where are protests taking place?

Here’s a look at the routes farmers are expected to take in Friday into Berlin where disruption will occur:

Frohnau: From the state border via B96 Berliner Straße, Roedernallee, Lindauer Allee, Residenzstraße, Markstraße, Schulstraße, Luxemburger Straße, Föhrer Straße, An der Putlitzbrücke, Stromstraße, Lessingstraße, Altonaer Straße and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Lichtenrade: From the state border via the B96 Kirchhainer Damm to Tempelhofer Damm and then via Mehringdamm, Hallesches Ufer, Reichpietschufer, Klingelhöferstraße, Hofjägerallee and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Mahlsdorf: From the state border via the B1/5 to Alexanderstraße and then via Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Unter den Linden, Wilhelmstraße, Dorotheenstraße, Scheidemannstraße, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee, Spreeweg and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Staaken: From the state border via B5 Heerstraße to Theodor-Heuss-Platz, Kaiserdamm, Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Straße des 17. Juni and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni.

As we’ve already. mentioned, there will also be road closures on Leipziger Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Platz.

Farmers at the Straße des 17. Juni early morning on Friday in Berlin in a demo for better agricultural policy.

Farmers at the Straße des 17. Juni early morning on Friday in Berlin in a demo for better agricultural policy. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jörg Carstensen

A large police presence was in place around the federal ministries and parliamentary buildings.

“We are taking preparatory measures before the farmers’ rally so that parliamentary work can take place smoothly on Friday,” said a spokesperson for the Berlin police on Thursday. 

During previous demonstrations, tactics – such as throwing manure and blockade attempts – have been controversial. 

On one occasion in January more than a hundred farmers blocked a ferry port as Economics Minister Robert Habeck tried to return from a holiday with his wife on the North Friesian island of Hooge.

According to media reports, some of the protestors tried to storm the ferry that the Habeck and his wife were on, preventing the Green Party politician from disembarking and forcing police to intervene. 

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