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.

[rebelmouse-image 32936585 expand=1 alt="Fridays For Future activist Luisa Neubauer holds a sign reading "Climate protection is manual work", as activists block a road during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12, 2023 that has highlighted tensions over Germany's climate policy during an energy crisis. REUTERS/Christian Mang" site_id=25354495 is_animated_gif=false original_size="5440x3627" caption="In total 6,000 demonstrators turned up to protest the new coal mine" photo_credit="CHRISTIAN MANG" 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In total 6,000 demonstrators turned up to protest the new coal mine
CHRISTIAN MANG

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.

Police say they intervened after activists attempted to cross the excavation border
THILO SCHMUELGEN

Criminal proceedings have been launched against 150 people
WOLFGANG RATTAY

"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.

Greta Thunberg demanded 'climate justice for everyone'
THILO SCHMUELGEN

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.