Hamburg residents protest planned drug aid facility near schools

Approximately 60 residents in Hamburg-Harburg demonstrated in front of the Harburg Town Hall to protest the planned construction of a new drug aid facility on Buxtehuder Straße. Protesters argue that the proposed location, situated near the B75, is too close to sensitive community sites, including two schools, two daycare centers, a women's shelter, a senior residence, a student dormitory, and a mosque.

Jenny Schiller, chair of a special education school's parents' council, stated that the proximity is a major concern for vulnerable students, including children with autism. She reported that students have been approached by individuals from the drug scene and, in some instances, have been offered drugs, leading to fears that children no longer feel safe walking to school alone.

The Harburg district assembly has unanimously supported the residents' demand for a more central location that maintains a sufficient distance from educational and childcare institutions. Despite these protests, the Hamburg Senate previously announced in late September that construction of the facility was intended to begin later this year.