Viral Video Shows Greta Thunberg Being Taken by German Police

Greta Thunberg was among those temporarily held by police during a protest in western Germany.

Thunberg was demonstrating alongside activists to prevent the destruction of the abandoned community of Lützerath for the construction of a coal mine.

Greta Thunberg Arrest

Police emphasized that Greta Thunberg had not been detained and later reported that she had been freed after an identification check. According to police, the Swedish activist was arrested as a group "rushed towards the ledge" of the Garzweiler 2 mine.

Additionally, officers stated that none of those detained will be prosecuted. The footage saw three cops hauling Greta Thunberg away from the rally while she grinned, as per BBC.

The police also said that a guy leaped into the coal mine, which is located around 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from Lützen. Activists believe that Germany's attempts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions are undermined by its usage of coal.

The government has vowed to hasten the coal phase-out in North Rhine-Westphalia, where the mine is located, to 2030. The national goal is set for 2038. Lignite is the most polluting kind of coal, and the region surrounding Lützerath produces 25 million tonnes of it annually.

The village, acquired by the energy firm RWE after its inhabitants abandoned it, is anticipated to be the last one to be razed for the lignite mine. RWE has stated that the coal underneath the town would be required as early as this winter.

The government claims that it must develop the mine to meet German energy demand in light of the disruption of Russian gas supplies. Saturday's demonstration drew an estimated 35,000 protestors, according to the rally's organizers, although police estimated the number to be closer to 15,000.

The police said that they had successfully removed all activists from the city over the weekend. Sunday footage saw Thunberg and other demonstrators being escorted by police.

Thunberg, who joined the protesters on Friday, was spotted sitting alone in a huge police bus on Tuesday afternoon, following her arrest. Following demonstrations on Sunday, Thunberg was forcefully removed from the same location by police, Daily Mail reported.

Germany's Coal Mine

Today, authorities stated that Thunberg was a member of a group of activists who stormed the ledge of the Garzweiler open pit mine. Before battling with police, the demonstrators stood on the edge of the open pit, which has a dangerous break-off edge.

According to the police, the area is unsafe, and no one is permitted to remain there.
Thunberg was one of many demonstrators hauled away by police in the afternoon from the mine's edge.

RWE stated that one demonstrator was able to enter the mine, calling the action "very risky." The spokesperson stated that it was unclear what would happen to Thunberg or the group she was held with, or if the activist who plunged into the mine was hurt.

Earlier, the German television outlet n-tv portrayed Thunberg inside a group of demonstrators surrounded by many police officers. On January 11, police and RWE began removing demonstrators from Luetzerath by dismantling obstacles, cutting down treehouses, and bulldozing structures.

For years, activists have underlined the symbolic significance of Luetzerath, and on Saturday, thousands of people rallied against RWE's demolition of the village for the development of the Garzweiler coal mine.

DW News says that on Friday, Thunberg stated that Germany was "embarrassing itself" by extending the mine. Demonstrators have accused the police of "pure violence," while officials report that 70 police officers have been injured in the past few days.

The police say they are investigating 154 possible offenses, and nine eco-activists have been brought to the hospital, but none have been significantly harmed, a fact that is challenged by the climate protestors, who allege that some have been severely injured.

At times, the police reaction has devolved into ludicrous spectacles, as seen by social media footage of cops in riot gear becoming mired in thick mud while demonstrators hurl mud at them.

One video recorded on Sunday appears to show a guy dressed as a friar insulting and even shoving down a police officer as they attempt to escape the mud.

The energy company RWE operates one of Europe's largest open-pit mines, named Garzweiler. It is an important supplier of lignite for coal-fired power plants. As a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the German government has rethought its energy policy and no longer intends to phase out coal by 2030 as it had previously said.