Greta Thunberg carried away by police at German mine protest

Ms Thunberg was among hundreds of people who resumed anti-mining protests at multiple locations in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Police in western Germany have carried Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other protesters away from the edge of an open coal pit mine where they demonstrated against the ongoing destruction of a village to make way for the mine’s expansion, German news agency dpa reported.

Ms Thunberg was among hundreds of people who resumed anti-mining protests at multiple locations in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia a day after the last two climate activists holed up in a tunnel beneath the village of Luetzerath left the site.

Both argue the coal is needed to ensure Germany’s energy security, which has been squeezed by the cut in supply of Russian gas due to the war in Ukraine.

But environmentalists say bulldozing Luetzerath will result in vast greenhouse gas emissions.

Germany is expected to miss its ambitious climate targets for the second year in a row.

Amid the heated coal debate in Germany, the European Union pushed forward on Tuesday with a major clean tech industrial project designed to boost its plans for a greener future as the 27-nation bloc pursues the goal of being climate neutral by 2050.

Police officers stand in front of a group of protesters, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, centre bottom, on the edge of the Garzweiler II opencast lignite mine during a protest action by climate activists after the clearance of Luetzerath, Germany — Police officers stand in front of a group of protesters, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, centre bottom, on the edge of the Garzweiler II opencast lignite mine in Luetzerath, Germany (Roberto Pfeil/dpa via AP)

Near Rommerskirchen, a group of about 120 activists also occupied the coal railroad tracks to the Neurath power plant, according to police and energy company RWE.

Those who refused to leave the tracks were carried away, dpa reported.

In addition, several people occupied a giant digger at the coal mine of Inden, while hundreds of other protesters joined a protest march near Luetzerath.

The village itself was evacuated by the police in recent days and is sealed off.

Once again, there were a few clashes with the police.

Police officers surround a group of activists and coal opponents on the edge of the Garzweiler II lignite open pit mine during a protest by climate activists following the clearance of Luetzerath, Germany (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

They stood at the brink of the open pit, which has a sharp break-off edge.

Police said it was dangerous and people were prohibited from staying there.

Ms Thunberg had travelled to western Germany to participate in weekend demonstrations against the expanded mine and also took part in Tuesday’s protest near Luetzerath.

Police in nearby Aachen said a group of around 50 protesters got dangerously close to the rim of the mine and did not want to leave despite being asked to do so.

All the people in that group had to be carried away from the edge of the mine and were then temporarily held to determine their identities, police said.

Photos from the scene showed Ms Thunberg was one of those whom officers took away.

Police officers lead Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg away from the edge of the Garzweiler II opencast lignite mine during a protest action by climate activists after the clearance of Luetzerath, Germany — Police officers lead Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg away from the edge of the Garzweiler II opencast lignite mine in Luetzerath, Germany (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

A police spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity as is customary in Germany, said he was not permitted to give out any details on Ms Thunberg or any other individuals who participated in the protest due to privacy rules.

Police and RWE started evicting protesters from Luetzerath on January 11, removing roadblocks, chopping down treehouses and bulldozing buildings.

Activists have cited the symbolic importance of Luetzerath for years, and thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday against the razing of the village by RWE for the expansion of the Garzweiler coal mine.