Greta Thunberg removed by German police from coal mine protest

Greta Thunberg removed by German police from coal mine protest site Europe

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was removed by police on Sunday along with other protesters as they demonstrated against the demolition of the German village of Lützerath for the expansion of a coal mine.

Thunberg failed to comply with a police request to leave the area and asked officers to physically escort her away, German media outlet Bild reported. Thunberg was among a group of activists who were still at the scene on Sunday, the newspaper said.

Climate activists have been occupying the village in western North Rhine-Westphalia for more than two years to protest against its demolition to make room for an extension to the Garzweiler colliery.

Thunberg joined them on Saturday, speaking at a large rally in the fields outside Lützerath that the German government’s compromise with the colliery’s owner was “shameful”.

According to the police, nine activists were taken to the hospital, Bild reported. More than 70 police officers were injured in the operation to clear protesters from the site, the newspaper said.