Published: Less than 40 min ago
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had visited Frankfurt to celebrate the European Central Bank’s 25th anniversary and was due to fly home.
However, the convoy of advisers, police and bodyguards was joined on the way to the airport. A private person drove with the column and was able to get into Frankfurt’s heavily guarded airport just because of the speed, reports the German newspaper Bild.
Once there, the driver got out of his private car, walked up to the Chancellor and gave him a heartfelt hug. Only then did security personnel realize that the man did not belong to the group. He was wrestled down and arrested.
The incident is confirmed by the chancellor’s office.
– The meeting and the hug at Frankfurt airport were not part of the Chancellor’s plans. It was a surprise to him, but at the moment it wasn’t much more. The Chancellor did not feel threatened at the time, says spokesman Wolfgang Büchner.
But the horror of what could have happened is enough for the police to start an investigation.