Italy climate activists charged with ‘criminal organization’

Last generation climate activists in Italy are accused of forming a criminal organization. The accusation is directed against members of the Ultima Generazione in Padua, northern Italy, a spokesperson for the Digos police unit said on request on Saturday.

Digos, which specializes in counter-terrorism, has been investigating since a poster campaign by the climate protection group Extinction Rebellion in 2020. First, a suspect was searched, who is now one of the defendants. Suspects were observed on this basis.

Their actions aimed at impeding freedom of movement on the streets, defacing or defiling cultural assets, it said.

In some cases, only police intervention could prevent “violent incidents” by motorists in response to protests or more serious consequences for rush hour traffic. Digos did not say how many suspects were involved.

“Nonviolent civilians are treated as if they were mafiosi”

According to “La Repubblica”, the investigators justify the accusation of forming a criminal organization with the fact that acts of civil disobedience did not occur spontaneously, but were organized, discussed and weighed by an internal hierarchy.

The activists criticized in a statement that “five ordinary citizens” were accused of forming a criminal organization. “Nonviolent civilians are treated as if they were mafiosi,” it says. The authorities wanted to intimidate.

As in Germany, the protests in Italy, with which the activists want to draw attention to the threat of climate change, are controversial. A few days ago, the Italian government announced tougher action against climate activists if they criminalize themselves for destroying cultural heritage.

(dsc/sda/dpa)