Activists blocked the access roads to the International Air and Space Exhibition, ILA, in Berlin on Wednesday, forcing organisers to close both entry routes to the site. The footpath from Waßmannsdorf S-Bahn station remained open, while organisers said they were working with state police to restore access quickly.
The timing sharpened the operational risk. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other ministers were due at midday, raising pressure on traffic control, security screening and VIP movements across the venue perimeter. For exhibitors and suppliers, the disruption hit the first layer of access: arrivals, freight handover and on-site logistics.
The identity of the protest group, the duration of the blockade and whether police cleared the roads later were not disclosed. Operators now face a test of perimeter resilience as the show continues.