Vienna Court Sentences Last Generation Activist Anja Windl to Suspended Prison Term
The Vienna Regional Criminal Court concluded a high-profile trial against former "Last Generation" climate activists, sentencing prominent figure Anja Windl to an eight-month suspended prison term for property damage. Windl and three co-defendants were convicted for gluing themselves to Austrian highways using sand and superglue, while another defendant was acquitted. The verdict highlights the intensifying legal consequences for radical climate civil disobedience in Austria. This case is part of broader proceedings involving 47 charged individuals, reflecting ongoing societal tensions between protest rights and public order laws in Europe.
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German Climate Activist Anja Windl Receives Suspended Sentence in Austria
The Vienna Regional Court has sentenced German climate activist Anja Windl to an eight-month suspended prison term. Windl, a prominent member of the disbanded 'Last Generation' movement, was found guilty alongside three colleagues of criminal damage and serious damage to property. The charges stemmed from protest actions where activists glued themselves to major traffic routes in Austria using sand and superglue. Although Windl pleaded not guilty, arguing her actions were driven by deep concern over the climate crisis, the court upheld the conviction. The verdict is not yet final. Windl, often referred to as 'Climate Shakira,' is considered a central figure in Austrian climate protests and has faced legal proceedings over 50 times. This sentencing occurs amidst a larger trial involving 47 former members of the group. Additionally, Windl was recently involved in an incident in Germany where she attempted to damage Chancellor Friedrich Merz's private plane. She continues to use social media to criticize what she describes as repression against peaceful protests in democratic societies.
Nachrichten - WELTClimate Activist Anja Windl Receives Suspended Prison Sentence for Autobahn Blockade
Anja Windl, a 29-year-old climate activist, was sentenced to an eight-month suspended prison term by the Vienna Regional Criminal Court for her role in blocking the South Autobahn and other protest actions. The court found her guilty of serious property damage, citing the use of quartz sand and superglue to fix protesters' hands to the roadway, which required fire departments to break up asphalt to clear the route. While three other young activists received fines and a pensioner was acquitted, Windl faced a stricter penalty due to multiple charges and her perceived lack of remorse during proceedings. During the trial, Windl emotionally argued that civil disobedience was necessary against political inaction on climate change, warning of catastrophic future consequences. The judge noted Windl appeared unimpressed by the legal process as an aggravating factor. Additionally, Windl faces potential separate proceedings for social media posts alleged to incite criminal acts. The verdict is not yet final. This case highlights ongoing legal challenges for climate protesters in Austria, with 47 individuals charged in related incidents involving road blockades and paint throwing.
DiePresse.com - HomeGerman Climate Activist Anja Windl Receives Suspended Sentence in Austria
Anja Windl, a prominent German climate activist and former member of the dissolved Last Generation network, has been sentenced to an eight-month suspended prison term by the Vienna Regional Court in Austria. The court found the 29-year-old and three accomplices guilty of property damage and aggravated property damage related to protests where activists glued themselves to major traffic routes using sand and super glue. Windl, considered a central figure in Austria's climate protest movement, did not plead guilty, with her lawyer citing deep concern over the ongoing climate crisis. The verdict is not yet final. This ruling is part of a larger trial involving 47 former Last Generation members in Vienna, where dozens of fines have already been issued. The co-defendants convicted alongside Windl received fines rather than prison sentences. Additionally, Windl was previously arrested in January in Arnsberg, Germany, for allegedly attempting to damage Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s private jet, an action for which she claimed responsibility. The case highlights the intensifying legal consequences faced by radical climate activists in Europe.
DIE ZEIT | Nachrichten, News, Hintergründe und DebattenFour Convictions, One Acquittal in Vienna Trial of Climate Activists
A Vienna court delivered verdicts in a major trial against former supporters of the dissolved climate movement 'Last Generation,' resulting in four convictions and one acquittal for property damage charges. German activist Anja Windl received an eight-month suspended sentence for protests involving 'mummy hands' (superglue and sand) on Austrian roads in November 2023. Although she defended her actions as necessary due to the climate crisis, the judgment is not yet final, and separate proceedings for alleged incitement via social media may follow. Another defendant was convicted for spilling red paint at the Academy of Sciences and protesting at the Salzburg Festival using a forged ID. A third defendant faced charges for a protest in St. Pölten where a police officer was injured. The trials highlight ongoing legal consequences for disruptive climate protests in Austria, with defendants arguing their actions were grassroots democratic responses to the climate emergency, while prosecutors pursued charges for aggravated property damage and public disorder.
DiePresse.com - HomeFinal Trial for Last Generation's 'Mummy Hands' Protest Ends with Sentences
The final criminal trial concerning the 'Last Generation' climate activists, known for their 'mummy hands' protests, has concluded with mixed verdicts. Anja Windl, a prominent figure in the movement often referred to as 'Climate Shakira,' appeared before the court alongside four other defendants. During the proceedings, the activists emphasized the critical importance of climate protection, with Windl’s defense lawyer stating that she viewed her actions as necessary and therefore refused to plead guilty. The lay judge panel, chaired by Daniela Zwangsleitner, delivered sentences for all five individuals. While three of the defendants were ordered to pay fines, Anja Windl received a suspended prison sentence. This trial marks the conclusion of a series of legal batches necessitated by space constraints, addressing the high-profile civil disobedience campaigns conducted by the group. The case highlights the ongoing legal and societal tensions surrounding radical climate activism in Europe, balancing the right to protest against public order laws.
derStandard.at | Nachrichten, Kommentare & CommunityTrial Continues for Former 'Last Generation' Activists in Vienna
Legal proceedings against five former activists of the disbanded climate movement 'Last Generation' continued at the Regional Criminal Court in Vienna on May 12, 2026. The defendants, including 29-year-old German Anja Windl, face charges primarily related to property damage and serious property damage. Windl defended her actions, stating the protests were necessary, and described incidents involving 'mummy hands' using sand and superglue on highways. While she pleaded not guilty, another defendant partially admitted to spilling red paint at the Academy of Sciences and protesting the Gaza war at the Salzburg Festival using a fake ID. A third defendant is accused of injuring a police officer with a fire extinguisher during a protest in St. Pölten. Although social media posts by Windl were excluded from this specific trial day, they may face separate legal action. The broader case involves 47 charged individuals, with dozens of fines already issued. The trial's conclusion remains uncertain due to the absence of an ill witness, highlighting the ongoing judicial response to climate activism and related political demonstrations in Austria.
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