Scaffolding at the Brandenburg Gate due to cleaning
Scaffolding has been erected at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin for further cleaning work following the paint attack by climate activists. The erection of the scaffolding on the east side of the gate began on Tuesday morning. Orange paint was still clearly visible on the sandstone columns, which could not yet be removed.
On September 17, the Last Generation group had sprayed six columns of the gate with paint. The police subsequently arrested 14 climate activists.
An initial cleaning with hot water from high-pressure jets did not work. Contrary to what the climate activists claimed, the paint is not very water-soluble. The sandstone of the gate is relatively coarse-grained and porous and absorbed both the paint and the water.
Now a kind of paste is to be applied, which can first be absorbed and then washed off. The process may have to be repeated several times, said Birgit Möhring, Managing Director of Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH (BIM). The cleaning could take several weeks.
In total, the work is expected to cost at least 115,000 euros, perhaps even more. Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) had confirmed that attempts would be made to recover the money from the climate protection group Letzte Generation and the polluters.
Despite the ongoing demonstrations against climate change, the Brandenburg Gate monuments remain a target for vandalism. The recent street crimes include the paint attack by the Last Generation group, which has led to significant cleaning expenses.
Source: www.dpa.com
