World
Man joins VIP convoy, hugs German chancellor; security breach under investigation
BERLIN: German police have been left red-faced after a member of the general public was in a position to slip right into a VIP convoy for Chancellor Olaf Scholz after which give him a hearty hug as he ready to board a airplane at Frankfurt Airport.
Tabloid newspaper Bild reported on Friday that Scholz’s bodyguards solely realised their mistake later, and chased the person down.
In an announcement, federal police stated the person was detained. No person was harm however an investigation into the safety breach has been launched, police stated.
Scholz’s workplace confirmed the incident, which occurred late Wednesday as Scholz made his method again to Berlin following a celebration for the twenty fifth anniversary of the European Central Bank.
“The encounter and hug at Frankfurt Airport (…) was certainly not deliberate by the chancellor,” Scholz’s spokesperson Wolfang Buechner advised reporters in Berlin. He stated that the incident “was a shock to him” however the German chief “did not really feel threatened at any level”.
Scholz himself downplayed the incident when requested about it at a information convention in Estonia later Friday.
“As for the query about folks saying hiya to me and greeting me, that’s by no means one thing that notably amazes me — it’s completely regular, and I did not really feel that this example was dramatic,” he stated. Pressed on doable penalties, he added: “The police do good work, and I really feel that I’m in secure fingers.”
Regardless of that confidence, Buechner stated that “there are questions surrounding this incident and they are going to be rigorously investigated”.
Tabloid newspaper Bild reported on Friday that Scholz’s bodyguards solely realised their mistake later, and chased the person down.
In an announcement, federal police stated the person was detained. No person was harm however an investigation into the safety breach has been launched, police stated.
Scholz’s workplace confirmed the incident, which occurred late Wednesday as Scholz made his method again to Berlin following a celebration for the twenty fifth anniversary of the European Central Bank.
“The encounter and hug at Frankfurt Airport (…) was certainly not deliberate by the chancellor,” Scholz’s spokesperson Wolfang Buechner advised reporters in Berlin. He stated that the incident “was a shock to him” however the German chief “did not really feel threatened at any level”.
Scholz himself downplayed the incident when requested about it at a information convention in Estonia later Friday.
“As for the query about folks saying hiya to me and greeting me, that’s by no means one thing that notably amazes me — it’s completely regular, and I did not really feel that this example was dramatic,” he stated. Pressed on doable penalties, he added: “The police do good work, and I really feel that I’m in secure fingers.”
Regardless of that confidence, Buechner stated that “there are questions surrounding this incident and they are going to be rigorously investigated”.
