- The protest was on May 18 in Hohenems , near the border with Switzerland
- Members of Extinction Rebellion and the Last Generation were involved
Furious motorists were seen in shocking footage running over eco-protesters, dragging them off the street, and leaving them crying as they tried to block traffic in Austria.
The May 18 demonstration was carried out by members of Extinction Rebellion and the Last Generation in Hohenems, located close to the border with Switzerland.
Seven climate activists blocked a roundabout leading to the A14 motorway, and the chaotic protest was one of five taking place at border crossings in the region at the same time.
Footage taken by a protester shows several furious drivers appearing to manhandle them, from dragging them off the road by their shirt collars to then dumping them to the side of the street.
In one clip, a female protester donning an orange hi-vis jacket and waving a yellow banner was picked up and tossed onto the pavement before the enraged motorist raised his arms in anger and yelled at the demonstrator.
Climate activists in Austria who were demonstrating on May 18 were thrown to the sides of the street by furious motorists after attempting to block traffic
In one shocking video, a male eco-protester was seen being knocked to the ground by a moving vehicle
Members of Extinction Rebellion and the Last Generation glued themselves onto a roundabout in Hohenems, located close to the border with Switzerland
Another shot shows a group of at least four activists sitting and laying in the middle of the road as cars were forced to come to a halt behind them.
Two drivers then take an arm each of a protester who is laid out on the ground and drag them away in a bid to clear the road.
An older man wearing a yellow hi-vis was filmed in shocking scenes being knocked into by a moving vehicle as his legs buckled at the force.
The driver of the vehicle then exits the car before wrapping his arms around the man and pulling him away from the road.
Another clip shows an eco-protester thrashing around while being carried by two men across a zebra crossing after attempting to disrupt the traffic flow on the busy road.
Activists were seen wailing on the sides of the roads after being thrown and shoved and knocked to the ground by moving vehicles.
In a different clip of the protest, a man in a black cap and orange hi-vis was seen flying backwards through the air after being hit by a white car.
After the vehicle made contact with his shins, the man was thrown back and left laying on the road in front of the car.
According to local police, three activists suffered abrasions and minor injuries in the incident.
Activists were seen flung across the street by angry drivers and left on the side of the roads as motorists attempted to clear the lane
According to local police, three activists suffered abrasions and minor injuries in the incident
Motorists took matters into their own hands as they battled with protesters on the Austrian road
Seven climate activists blocked a roundabout leading to the A14 motorway, and the chaotic protest was one of five taking place at border crossings in the region at the same time
A police spokesperson said: ‘Within a very short period of time, a huge traffic disruption occurred on the motorway and brought all traffic in the area to a standstill.’
As a result, several angry motorists took matters into their own hands.
However, activists claimed they didn’t cause the traffic jam and said they were ‘shocked’ by the reaction.
Extinction Rebellion activist Marina Hagen-Canaval said: ‘It shocks me that people behave this way because of an expected traffic jam that we didn’t cause.’
The police eventually intervened and moved the protesters from the road, adding that they did not want to leave the place voluntarily.
The authorities said they briefly detained one disruptive activist before deciding to let them go.
Hagen-Canaval said: ‘It is not in our interest’ to file a complaint against the aggressive drivers.
However, as the police have asked for them to make their videos available to them, she added: ‘Of course we will comply with that request.’
The authorities are reportedly viewing the footage to decide whether they will take action against any of the angry road users.
