German police union calls for tractor ban at demonstrations

The German Police Union (GdP) is calling for a ban on tractors at demonstrations, reported dpa.

"The public meeting authorities and the police must react immediately and ban tractors at public meetings," the union's chairman, Jochen Kopelke, told the Thursday edition of the Dusseldorf newspaper Rheinische Post.

He added that the police would consistently enforce such a ban.

"We have emphasized the dangers of tractors and tractor units and appealed to common sense in the event of a registered protest," Kopelke continued.

Following massive farmers' protests during Ash Wednesday, the Green Party cancelled their political rally in the south-western German state of Baden-Württemberg because of security concerns.

The protests included blockades by dozens of honking tractors.

In recent weeks, farmers in Germany have repeatedly blocked roads and access routes because they are dissatisfied with the government's agricultural policy.