Rail traffic delayed Man climbs bridge in Cologne to protest
Cologne · A man whose application for asylum had been denied, climbed on a steel arch of the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, throwing rail traffic into disarray. The man wanted to call attention to his situation.
An asylum seeker and his protest action at the Hohenzollern Bridge in the middle of Cologne created chaos for rail passengers at peak commuter time on Wednesday. Police told the German Press Agency (dpa) that the asylum application of the 29-year-old Iranian had been rejected.
The Hohenzollern Bridge, important for rail traffic in Cologne, was closed off for two-and-a-half hours late Wednesday afternoon. Police were informed at 4:40 pm that a man had climbed up on a steel arch of the bridge. From the bridge, the man threw down messages on paper in Arabic script. The 29-year-old requested a translator and after a translator had been in contact with him, he climbed down and was taken in by police. “He told us he wanted to take his life,” said a police spokesperson. The man was set free and is facing charges of disturbing the peace.
German Rail informed that there were many detours and some trains had to be cancelled. Some of the trains going to Cologne Central Train Station could be rerouted over the Cologne South Bridge. The Hohenzollern Bridge was closed off from 4:47 pm until 7:20 pm.
Witnesses report that platforms were full in the central train station during the bridge closure. Fire rescue workers were also on the scene. (Orig. text: ga.de)
