World

Greta Thunberg dragged away by police after anti-coal mine demonstration’s violent clashes

Climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg was pictured being detained by police today at anti-coal mine demonstration in Germany.

The 20-year-old activist was led away by officers dressed in riot gear.

She was dragged away by the two officers at the protest in Lützerath after refusing to comply with their orders.

Yesterday police were forced to intervene at a protest at the same site after a climate change demonstration turned violent.

Around 6,000 protesters marched through mud and rain on Saturday to campaign against the expansion of an opencast lignite mine.

Officers used pepper spray and batons to break up those demonstrating, with police saying they took action to stop people from breaking through barriers nearing the danger zone at the edge of the excavation area.

Police say criminal proceedings have been launched against about 150 individuals following yesterday’s violent clashes.

Thunberg reappeared at the site today, breaking through the excavation border, despite yesterday’s clashes.

The high profile campaigner and other activists ran across a field where a police cavalry squadron was keeping guard.

She was detained by police after refusing to then leave the area when ordered, according to local media.

Giving a speech yesterday before the violent clashes, Thunberg told the gathered activists: “This is a betrayal of present and future generations.

“Germany is one of the biggest polluters in the world and needs to be held accountable.”

She added: “It’s very weird to see the German government, including the Green party, make deals and compromise with companies like RWE, with fossil fuel companies, when they should rather be held accountable for all the damage and destruction they have caused.”

In a message to the German government she demanded: “Stop what’s happening here immediately, stop the destruction, and ensure climate justice for everyone.”

The president of North Rhine-Westphalia told German radio Deutschlandfunk on Saturday that energy politics was “not always pretty” but that the coal was needed more than ever in light of the energy crisis confronting Europe’s biggest economy.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck told local media on Friday that Lutzerath was the “wrong symbol” to protest against.

“It is the last place where brown coal will be mined – not a symbol for more-of-the-same, but for the final frontier.”

But activists have said Germany should not be mining any more lignite and focus on expanding renewable energy instead.

The Germany government says it remains committed to phasing out coal by 2030.

Comments

Source
gbnews.uk

Related Articles

Back to top button