The police are investigating after the accident in Europa-Park because of negligent bodily harm. Also: explosive grenades in the bathing lake in the Black Forest and the Freiburg climate campers.
Hello together! Nice that you are here! I’m David Zastrow, multimedia reporter at SWR Studio Freiburg. We look together at some important events of the week. There was a lot going on in the region, the topics:
After the fire in Europa-Park in June, which caused millions of dollars in damage, the park operators were confronted with the next devastating incident this week. In an accident in the largest amusement park in Germany, seven people were injured on Monday. According to the police, the injured are five artists between the ages of 18 and 50 and two visitors.
Fortunately, three of the four injured artists who had to be hospitalized could be released from the clinic, Europapark told SWR on Friday. But it also means that an artist is unfortunately not doing so well. “The person can also be released in the coming days,” the park continued. At this point: Get well soon! Get fit very quickly.
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The police officers in Rust are now investigating on suspicion of negligent bodily harm. “First of all, the exact cause has to be found,” officials told SWR on Friday. Only then would it be possible to determine who was responsible. The focus is not only on Europa-Park, but also on a dedicated external company that is responsible for the water basin and the diving boards for the artists. The equipment was seized by the police.
The public prosecutor’s office has also commissioned a technical expert who examines the scene of the accident and the equipment. “But this will take some time,” the public prosecutor’s office in Freiburg told me on Friday.
“The visitor numbers remain unaffected.”
“All attractions are equipped with numerous safety systems and sensors and complete over 100 million trips per year,” writes Europa-Park to SWR. Year after year, the amusement park invests considerable sums in maintenance and modernization.
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“Overall, a double-digit million amount has been invested in safety and fire protection in recent years in order to optimize all measures beyond the usual standards,” it continues. And how do you feel about that as a visitor?
SWR-Wellen Baden-Württemberg and SWR Aktuell reported on the accident in Europa-Park on August 14th. Further follow-up reports followed.
Explosive news reached us from the Black Forest – ok, it wasn’t really explosive, nothing blew up – fortunately. Nevertheless, the explosive ordnance disposal service moved out to the monastery pond in St. Georgen in the Black Forest. Police divers had to search the bathing lake for explosive grenades. The reason: DLRG divers accidentally discovered two such artillery shells there during a night exercise at the beginning of August.
The assumption that there could be more World War II ammunition in the bathing lake was obvious. And indeed, on Wednesday afternoon, a third high-explosive grenade was fished out of the water.
The DLRG divers accidentally fished these two high-explosive grenades out of the monastery pond at the beginning of August.
It’s scary to think that people there have been swimming over HE shells for years. Who knows how many would have gone into the water knowing there was such explosive material lying around. In any case, the bathing lake was closed for around two weeks – for safety. However, there was no danger, the police told SWR.
Rather, the barrier should also prevent curious people from going to the diving station themselves to look at the ammunition at the bottom of the pond or to do practical jokes.
The monastery pond in St. Georgen in the Black Forest had been closed for around two weeks since the beginning of August because DLRG divers had discovered explosive grenades there. SWR
The bathing lake was released again on Friday, Giovanni Costantino from the city of St. Georgen told me. However, there is still a lot to do there. The monastery pond is to be desludged to stop excessive algae formation. “Otherwise, bathing is at risk,” he continues. In addition, the volume of the pond can be increased and the water temperature reduced. This extraction operation, with which a special company was entrusted, was initially stopped for the recovery of the explosive devices. It is to be continued after the summer season.
Police divers are preparing for the tedious search for grenades on the muddy bottom of the pond. SWR
In a briefing next week, experts will determine to what extent a risk to the employees of the extraction company can be ruled out, because “no one can say with certainty that there aren’t more grenades lying around deep in the mud,” said Costantino, who pointed out that this was completely normal . World War II ammunition would be buried in all the quarry ponds that existed during the Second World War, according to the assessment at the end of the week.
SWR 4 Baden Württemberg and SWR Aktuell reported on the high-explosive shells in the monastery pond in St. Georgen in the Black Forest on August 16th.
It’s funny when it comes to the Christmas market in midsummer. It is a conflict that has been dragging on for weeks. Discussions between the city of Freiburg and the climate activists of the camp on the town hall square. The city wants to be able to set up the stands for its 50th Christmas market on the square. “We cannot be blackmailed,” says Mayor Martin Horn. But the activists absolutely want to stay there.
The activists of the Freiburg climate camp have been demonstrating on Rathausplatz since July 2022. SWR
The city finally issued two orders on Wednesday. The result: the camp should be cleared by November 8th at the latest. On Christmas Day, the activists are allowed to come back, but only with two tents instead of four as before.
“We urgently need each of the four tents.”
This is a bitter disappointment for the climate campers. The climate camp would only take up a small part of the town hall square “and in the past many events such as the international women’s day, the reception of the SC women’s team, the carnival or the world refugee day could easily take place next to and with each other in cooperation.” The climate camp is therefore not a disruptive factor, but rather is perceived by many passers-by as an upgrade of the square, says Utermann.
I think it would be nice if the climate campers could convert one of their tents into a Christmas market stand and water candles or offer vegan cookies. In addition, a sustainability concept for the anniversary Christmas market and all those who are to follow.
After all, one has to ask what the Christmas message actually contains. It’s not primarily about consumption, but the love of people for one another and yes, also about respect and protection of creation. So you would have to think about how both can work together. A common solution. No either or. Just food for thought.
And we also want to take a quick look ahead. I don’t know about you, but I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Bundesliga season. SC Freiburg will play against TSG Hoffenheim in Sinsheim. Great start. I’m looking forward to the mood. The guest area is sold out well beyond its fence boundaries. The sports club has now qualified for the Europa League twice in a row and that raises high expectations in Breisgau.
My SWR colleague Mario Schmidt and I attended the last public SC training session before the start of the season at Europa-Park Stadium and spoke to fans, players and coaches.
SWR 1 and SWR 4 Baden Württemberg reported on the start of the Bundesliga at SC Freiburg on August 18th.
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