Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was filmed laughing with German riot police while posing for photos just before she was arrested at a coal mine protest
The 20-year-old was one of dozens of climate activists who were arrested by police officers yesterday during protests at a mine in the coal village of Lutzerath in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The theory has been circulating online that Thunberg’s arrest in protest was actually “all set for the cameras.” The German authorities have rejected this claim.
A video shows Thunberg smiling and laughing with a man who also appears to be another protester as they are held down by officers.
The theory has been circulating online that Thunberg’s arrest in protest was actually “all set for the cameras.” The German authorities have rejected this claim
The 20-year-old was one of dozens of climate activists who were arrested by police officers yesterday during protests at a mine in the coal village of Lutzerath in North Rhine-Westphalia
Greta Thunberg was seen smiling as she was carried away by riot police for the second time in three days while protesting outside a coal mine in Germany
The activist had two police officers in full riot gear guarding her, one holding Thunberg’s arm and the other standing by her side with his arms crossed.
A third person can be heard laughing from the off.
Then the Swede puts on a serious face and stops laughing as a photographer steps forward to take her picture.
In the background, a large number of riot police stand in a line.
Several photographers gather around Thunberg and start taking photos while two officers then lead them to a parking lot.
Police officers lead Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg away from the edge of the Garzweiler II opencast lignite mine
As the German news agency BILD reported, the police took Thunberg to the police caravan park, where the demonstrators revealed their personal details.
However, the area was already full of other climate activists, so they brought them back — and that’s when the video was taken.
There was some confusion but after a few minutes they took her to a bus as they already knew her identity.
Christof Hüls, spokesman for the Aachen police, told BILD: “There was no staging. The cops definitely didn’t pose. They were working on a mission. And as part of that, they had to wait.”
Climate activist Greta Thunberg sits in a bus on the day of the protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler brown coal mine of the German energy supplier RWE to Luetzerath in Germany
Activists protesting the ongoing demolition of the village to make way for a coal mine expansion clashed with riot police yesterday.
Thunberg, who joined the demonstrators on Friday, was alone in a large police bus after his arrest on Tuesday afternoon.
It comes after Thunberg was physically removed from the same location by police on Sunday following protests.
Today police said Thunberg was part of a group of activists who ran towards the ledge of the Garzweiler opencast mine. The activists stood at the edge of the mine, which has a sharp cliff face, before colliding with the police.
Police said it was dangerous and people were forbidden to stay there.
Thunberg was one of several protesters carried away by police from the edge of the mine in the afternoon.
A demonstrator was able to enter the mine, said RWE and called the step “very inconsiderate”, reported dpa.
Thunberg is pictured among a group of protesters surrounded by several police officers
“Greta Thunberg was part of a group of activists who ran towards the ledge,” said a spokesman for the Aachen police.
“But then we stopped and carried her with this group out of the immediate danger area for identity verification.”
It was not yet clear what would happen to Thunberg or the group she was held with, or if the activist who jumped into the mine was injured, the spokesman said.
The German news channel n-tv previously showed Thunberg in a group of demonstrators surrounded by several police officers.
“We will use force to take you to the identity check, so please cooperate,” a police officer told the group of activists, according to Portal footage.
On January 11, the police and the energy company RWE began clearing demonstrators from Lützerath, removing roadblocks, tearing down tree houses and bulldozing buildings.
Activists have been referring to the symbolic meaning of Lützerath for years. Thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday against the demolition of the village by RWE to expand the Garzweiler colliery.
Police officers carry Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg away from the edge of the Garzweiler II opencast brown coal mine during today’s protests
On Friday, Thunberg said Germany had “embarrassed itself” by expanding the mine, reports DW News.
“I find it absolutely absurd that this is happening in 2023,” she said.
“The most effective people are clear, the science is clear, we need to keep the carbon in the ground.
“When governments and corporations act like this, actively destroying the environment, putting countless people at risk, people step up.
“This is just part of a global climate movement and we stand together in solidarity.”