German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was embraced by an unknown man who drove his car onto the apron of the airport in Frankfurt am Main with the chancellor’s column, reported the portal of the daily “Bild”, describing Wednesday’s event. Police officers and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) initially did not react.
According to Bilda, a man in a dark Audi A5 joined the chancellor’s column on its way through the center of Frankfurt am Main to the airport. “Almost 20 kilometers from the airport. And no one noticed the dark Audi” – writes the portal.
A BKA officer was standing at the barrier and was informed by radio about the approach of the convoy. He instructed an employee of the airport operator Fraport to open the barrier. At a speed of over 50 km/h, the convoy passed, including the black Audi A5 of the man who later embraced Scholz, the article reads.
“Only when the man got off and embraced the chancellor on the tarmac did the BKA notice the huge security breach,” writes “Bild”.
The portal learned that “a man with a Greek-sounding name was under the influence of drugs.” He appeared disoriented when he was arrested, officials said.
Olaf ScholzPAP/DPA
Scholz ‘didn’t feel threatened’
According to deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner, Scholz “has never felt threatened”. Nevertheless, issues have arisen that now need to be thoroughly clarified. After all, “something worse could have happened,” the portal states.
Scholz himself spoke about the incident at a press conference in the capital Estonia Tallinn. “The police are doing a good job, I feel I am in safe hands,” the chancellor said.
Main photo source: PAP/DPA