On Thursday morning, February 19, 2026, police in Darmstadt began clearing an occupied area on the Osthang of Mathildenhöhe, where activists are protesting planned tree felling for an information center. The operation, which started at 7 AM, involves a height intervention team using a cherry picker to safely remove individuals who have climbed trees and are refusing to descend voluntarily. The Olbrichweg, a road leading to the exhibition building and the Hochzeitsturm, has been closed due to the operation, and traffic disruptions are expected. The protest initiative "Osthang besetzt!" reported that police removed barricades and are present in large numbers. A previous incident on Wednesday involved a suspicious propane gas bottle, which was later determined to pose no threat.