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Greta Thunberg was seen smiling as she was led away by police while protesting at a German coal mine today.
The Swedish climate activist and other protesters clashed with police at a mine in Lutzerath, in the country’s North Rhine-Westphalia region.
The town is about to be razed to make way for the expansion of the mine, despite protests by environmentalists.
Thunberg, who has been a leading voice in the climate change movement in recent years, was seen laughing as two riot police officers led her away this afternoon.
Greta Thunberg is seen smiling as she is surrounded by two police officers in Lutzerath in Germany today.
The climate activist laughed when riot police forcefully removed her from a protest against the expansion of a coal mine.
Police forcibly removed the 20-year-old after failing to comply with protesters’ demands to vacate the area, according to the German newspaper. picture.
He joined around 70 protesters at the site today, with the newspaper reporting that they ran across a field near the mine in an attempt to disrupt operations.
There have been multiple protests at the site near the western German town of Erkelenz in recent days, with clashes between protesters and police.
Activists have occupied the town of Lutzerath in an effort to stop the expansion of the mine, digging tunnels and building structures in an effort to stop progress.
The residents of the village left some time ago after being ordered to do so by the German courts.
On Wednesday, January 11, the police were given the green light to remove people from the village, sparking violence.
Protesters have accused police of “pure violence” while authorities say 70 police officers have been injured in recent days.
The Swedish eco-activist has visited the mine to protest against its expansion, which will mean the demolition of the town of Lutzerath
Thunberg, pictured here before being taken away, has called on the German government to halt plans to expand the mine.
There have been violent clashes between protesters and police at the mine in recent days. Image: A protester holds his eye at a rally yesterday
Protesters link arms as riot police confront them outside the mine on Saturday, January 14.
Smoke wafts through the air as eco-activists scuffle with police outside the mine on Saturday, January 14.
A protester falls to the ground during clashes between police and eco-activists at the coal mine on Saturday, January 14.
Police say they are investigating 154 possible crimes, while nine environmental activists have been taken to hospital, although none have been seriously injured, a claim refuted by climate protesters who say several have been seriously injured.
The action has descended at times into ludicrous scenes, with videos on social media showing police officers in riot gear trapped in thick mud as protesters throw rubbish at them.
One video appears to show a man dressed as a friar taunting trapped policemen and even pushing one as they try to get out of the mud.
The mine, called Garzweiler, is one of the largest open pit mines in Europe and is operated by the energy company RWE. It is a major source of lignite used in coal-fired power plants.
Protesters gather outside the coal mine as they prepare to confront police on Saturday, January 14.
Policemen on horseback advance towards protesters outside the mine on Saturday, January 14.
The protesters stand at the edge of the open pit mine, looking tens of meters to where the lignite was extracted.
Protesters gather in a field next to the mine as a huge piece of mining equipment looms in the background on Saturday, January 14.
Thunberg had visited the city on Friday, January 13, where she said Germany was “embarrassing itself” by expanding the mine. DW News reports.
“I think it is absolutely absurd that this is happening in the year 2023,” he said.
‘The most effective people are clear, the science is clear, we need to keep carbon in the ground.
‘When the government and corporations act in this way, they are actively destroying the environment, putting countless people at risk, people step up.
‘This is just one part of a global climate movement and we stand together in solidarity.’
The German government had announced plans to phase out coal by 2030, the Sun reports, but has since reversed course after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced it to rethink its energy policy.