Watch the paratrooper’s dangerous landing here:
“If the police had concluded that it was a terrorist attack, he would have paid for his action with death,” said regional minister Joachim Herrmann. “Snipers were already targeting him. Thanks to the Greenpeace logo, he is still alive.”
The 38-year-old Greenpeace man skimmed over the crowd using a motor mounted on his back and became tangled in camera wires. Some debris came down, injuring two men, a 36-year-old Frenchman and a 42-year-old Ukrainian. They were taken to hospital with head injuries, where they were allowed to leave after medical treatment.
The paratrooper landed on the field with a big thud, not far from the sidelines. He was not injured in the process. He was arrested after his emergency landing, but has since been released. He is suspected of, among other things, violation of the air traffic law, inflicting serious physical injury and entering prohibited areas.
Greenpeace apology
“The Munich Police Department emphasizes that there is no understanding whatsoever for such irresponsible actions, where human lives have been significantly endangered,” said a statement. The European football association UEFA called it a “reckless and dangerous” act, while the German Football Association (DFB) also condemned the action.
Greenpeace apologized, saying the man was not supposed to land on the field, but to throw a large latex ball onto the field in protest against tournament sponsor Volkswagen and then fly off again. “This protest was not intended to disrupt the game or injure anyone. Greenpeace’s actions are always peaceful and nonviolent. Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan with this campaign,” the organization said.
