Frankfurt/Darmstadt (dpa/lhe) - The investigations into dozens of hides in Hesse's forests, which were allegedly destroyed by animal rights activists, are still ongoing after almost two years. As the public prosecutor's offices in Frankfurt and Darmstadt announced at the request of the German Press Agency, the cases are not yet closed. "There are still investigative approaches that are being investigated," said a spokesman for the Darmstadt public prosecutor's office.
In the summer and autumn of 2020, suspected animal rights activists in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district and around Frankfurt in particular had repeatedly sawed down, knocked over and in some cases completely destroyed the hides of hunters. In some cases, the strangers left the signature "A.L.F.". people were not injured.
According to the State Criminal Police Office, in 2020 around 200 cases of property damage to raised hides became known throughout Hesse, "which were presumably committed by a group of people assigned to the area of animal welfare". Last year, the number then fell rapidly into the low double-digit range after the police, according to an LKA spokeswoman, broke up a suspected group.
The State Hunting Association (LJV) Hessen is currently only talking about a few cases. "It happens again and again," said an LJV spokesman. Young people are often behind it. The LJV estimates the damage per damaged hide at up to 1000 euros.
