East German Man Swims to Freedom
Associated Press
BERLIN —
An 18-year-old East German man scaled the Berlin Wall and swam across a canal to escape to West Berlin, police said Friday.
Police in West Berlin said the man told them by telephone about his Thursday night escape. It was not known how the man, who was not identified, made it past the fortifications separating Communist East Berlin from its Western neighbor.
Police said there was heightened activity among East German border troops in the Treptow area Thursday night where the man climbed over the wall.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
