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AUSTRIA

Austrian car buyer to get refund for emissions-cheating Volkswagen

A Vienna court has ordered a car dealer to reimburse a customer who bought a Volkswagen car because it was fitted with software designed to cheat emissions tests, the buyer's lawyers said Thursday.

Austrian car buyer to get refund for emissions-cheating Volkswagen
Volkswagen cars wait to be shipped at the harbour in Bremerhaven, northern Germany, on June 1st 2018. Photo: AFP

“If the plaintiff had known that software designed to cheat emissions tests had been installed on the vehicle concerned, she wouldn't have bought it,” the Commercial Court said according to part of the ruling cited by the Poduschka law firm, who represented the customer.

The judgement, if not overturned on appeal, will mean that the car dealer will have to take back the vehicle, bought for €26,500 in 2012, and to pay out a refund with interest totalling €29,000.

The plaintiff's lawyers said the judgement was the most favourable decision from the Austrian courts to date for a car buyer.

In autumn 2015 Volkswagen admitted that it had equipped 11 million of its diesel vehicles with software capable of falsifying the results of anti-pollution tests and covering up emissions up to 40 times over authorised limits.

The scandal has already cost the car giant more than €21 billion in vehicle recalls and legal cases. Several other car manufacturers have since also been investigated over similar practices.

READ ALSO: The Local Germany's 'Dieselgate' stories

GREENPEACE

Two hospitalized in Munich after activist crashes parachute into Euro 2020 stadium

At least two people were hospitalised Tuesday after a Greenpeace activist crash-landed on the pitch before the Germany-France match at Euro 2020 when his powered parachute microlight struck spidercam cables at Munich's Allianz Arena.

Two hospitalized in Munich after activist crashes parachute into Euro 2020 stadium
The activist lands on the turf of the Allianz Arena. credit: dpa | Christian Charisius

The pilot flew over the pitch just before kick-off in the Group F clash with “Kick out oil” written on the canopy of his parachute.

However, when the pilot hit television cables above the pitch, it knocked his microlight off balance and he landed on the turf after clipping one of the stands, where the casualties happened.

The activist was arrested soon after landing.

A Munich police spokesman told AFP that at least two people suffered head injuries and “both had to be taken to hospital, we don’t know yet how serious the injuries are”.

The police spokesman said the activist appears to have escaped injury, but “we are considering various criminal charges. Munich police has zero understanding for political actions that put lives at risk”.

UEFA also slammed the botched stunt.

“This inconsiderate act – which could have had very serious consequences for a huge number of people attending – caused injuries to several people attending the game who are now in hospital and law authorities will take the necessary action,” European football’s governing body said in a statement.

The parachutist above the stadium. Photo: dpa | Matthias Balk

“The staging of the match was fortunately not impacted by such a reckless and dangerous action, but several people were injured nonetheless.”

The stunt was a protest against German car manufacturer Volkswagen, one of the sponsors of the European Championship, Greenpeace explained in a Twitter post.

“UEFA and its partners are fully committed to a sustainable Euro 2020 tournament and many initiatives have been implemented to offset carbon emissions,” said UEFA.

Greenpeace said they regretted any harm caused.

“This protest was never intended to disrupt the game or hurt people,” read a Twitter post on Greenpeace’s official German account.

“We hope that everyone is OK and that no one was seriously injured. Greenpeace actions are always peaceful and non-violent.”

“Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan.”

READ MORE: Climate activists rage as Germany opts for drawn-out coal exit

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