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Man disrupts demolition in Grafenrheinfeld: trial at district court begins!
A man is on trial in Schweinfurt for trespassing after he disrupted the demolition of the Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant.
Man disrupts demolition in Grafenrheinfeld: trial at district court begins!
An exciting and at the same time controversial chapter in the history of the nuclear power plant in Grafenrheinfeld is coming to an end. On Thursday, September 11, 2025, a man stands in front of the Schweinfurt district court who wanted to disrupt the last major explosion of the former power plant a year ago through his involvement in the anti-nuclear power protest. This demolition, in which two cooling towers containing 55,000 tons of concrete and steel were leveled in just 30 seconds, not only marked the end of an era, but also a further step in the dismantling of the nuclear power plant, which has no longer been in operation since the last three nuclear power plants in Germany were shut down on April 15, 2023.
As [InFranken](https://www.infranken.de/lk/schweinfurt/grafenrheinfeld-mann-vor-gericht-nach-akw- Sprengstoerung-art-6262877) reports, the man has to answer for trespassing after he climbed a power pole in the barrier area on August 16, 2024. This protest led to a delay in the demolition by about an hour and a half. A penalty order had originally been issued against him, which provided for 60 daily rates of 50 euros each - a sum which he challenged through his objection.
An unforgettable event for onlookers
Hundreds of onlookers had gathered to blow up the cooling towers. The imposing height of the towers of 143 meters and the impressive wall thickness created a festive atmosphere. Red beacons that remained active until morning signaled the end of a chapter that began decades ago with the construction of the power plant. According to [BR](https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/kuehltuerme-in-grafenrheinfeld- Werden-gesprungt-ende-einer-aera,ULKwA92), this demolition took place for two main reasons: to make the dismantling visible and to create space for the storage of dismantled components.
The power plant operator Preussenelektra is not only demanding compensation of 7,000 euros from the protester, but also a cease and desist declaration. This is to ensure that future disruptive actions are avoided. In the background, a civil lawsuit is already underway at the Schweinfurt regional court with a dispute amounting to 12,000 euros.
The anti-nuclear power movement
What is happening in Grafenrheinfeld is part of a long-term fight against nuclear power in Germany. As Deutschlandfunk explains, the history of the protest goes back to the 1970s, when citizens defended themselves against the construction of nuclear power plants. Historically, the anti-nuclear power movement has developed and been reinvigorated by several disasters, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima. The recent discussions in the context of the Ukraine conflict have once again reignited the public debate about nuclear energy and its future.
The protest formats have changed over the decades, from violent clashes to civil disobedience actions. The case of the man from Grafenrheinfeld is therefore not an isolated case. It reflects how deeply this issue is anchored in society's consciousness and how many people are willing to fight for their beliefs.