BERLIN 

Police raided the homes of radical climate activists of The Last Generation group in Berlin for disrupting aviation traffic at Frankfurt Airport, media reports said Thursday. 

The Frankfurt Public Prosecutor's Office said the apartments of eight defendants in four states -- Baden-Wuerttemberg, Berlin, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt -- were stormed on suspicion of coercion, property damage and trespassing. It added that the apartments of the suspects were searched and DNA samples taken.

The eight climate activists, aged 20 to 44, are said to have gained access to the Frankfurt Airport runway at 4.45 a.m. local time on July 25.

One of the accused had allegedly glued him or herself to a damaged fence, while seven others glued themselves to different places on the runway. They were reportedly arrested that day and later released.

The climate group said apartments of “peaceful protesters” were searched. It accused police of “storming” rooms at 6.30 a.m.

By gluing themselves on the runways, the climate demonstrators paralyzed operations at Frankfurt Airport for hours.

The prosecutor's office said DNA samples are used to compare traces found at the crime scene.

The investigating authority did not provide further information due to ongoing proceedings.

The activists, who criticize government subsidies for the airline industry, have repeatedly targeted major airports throughout the country to highlight the environmental effect of air travel. ​​​​​​​

Activists of the Last Generation, which was founded in 2021, consider themselves the last generation before the earth reaches the tipping point of climate breakdown. Their protests in Germany have mainly focused on blocking roads and runways to affect transportation policy.