More Leipzig Chatter

Around two weeks ago, I essayed a piece on a 'attack' in Leipzig (in the east of Germany) where a construction site in the south of town was heavily damaged.

At the time, I noted that this end of town was under a fair amount of renovation (both to streets, and in terms of some new buildings....apartments....etc, going up).  The city and private investors were spending a big chunk of money.  This end of town though....has become heavily socialized by university students and alt-left individuals (even tourist sites chat about the trend).

So it got into Bild (the German national newspaper)....that the city officials of Leipzig have added up the various 'attacks' and damage, and said 'enough'.  They are now offering 100,000 Euro for information leading to the arrest of those involved. 

Part of this issue, as Bild points out.....leads back to a physical attack on a real estate guy.  The curious thing about this amount of reward...is that it's the highest in roughly forty years for left-wing individuals (leading back to the RAF days of the 1980s in West Germany).

The thing about this series of attacks.....these guys even set fire to the construction cranes, and probably endangered those collapsing onto cars, property, and possibly even people.

So it's not just one attack....the series has generated public hostility. 

The renovated neighborhood?  Connewitz. 

What happened over the past thirty years?  This part of town.....to the far south of Leipzig....was an area that was left out of most upgrades and renovation.  It became a cheaper place to live, and various students moved in....took up residence, and in some ways....gave it 'character'.  It's artsy....it's a student pub area....it's simple. 

The city plan?  It probably got presented at least three years ago, and negativity was brewing even then over the improvements coming and the more modern look.  So there's hostility brewing and nothing much that can halt this.  More attacks?  Probably, but there's going to be added security along the way, and likely to be arrests with real jail time for damage done.