Clashes have erupted between police and climate activists near the German coal-mining town of Lüzerat, where demolition work is underway for coal extraction.
According to AFP and dpa news on the 14th (local time), climate activists against coal mining staged a large-scale demonstration outside Lucerat this afternoon.
Organizers estimated 35,000 people and police estimated 15,000 people attended the protest.
Swedish youth environmental activist Greta Thunberg also joined the protest in Lucerat that day.
"It's shameful for the German government to deal and compromise with fossil fuel companies like RWE," said Thunberg.
The police said that about 1,000 protesters pressed the edge of the open-air cave and the police line outside Lucerat and suppressed them with police batons.
The protest continued despite repeated calls for withdrawal, and police claimed that water cannons and force were used.
Police also warned on Twitter, "Some people have entered the mine. Get out of the danger zone immediately."
Police and protesters were injured in the clashes, but the exact number of injuries was not confirmed.
In this regard, some protesters threw stones at the police, and one participant injured his head, AFP reported.
By evening, the situation had calmed down with most of the protesters dispersing.
According to the police, the demolition work was temporarily suspended that day and is planned to resume the next day.
Earlier, the German government allowed RWE to demolish the town and collect the remaining coal for power generation, instead of early closure of the Garzweiler coal mine near the town of Lüzerat.
Currently, the houses and land in the village of Lüzerat are all owned by RWE, and the residents also moved out at the end of October last year.
Climate activists have occupied the area and staged protests to prevent the demolition of villages for coal mining.
When the police started demolishing the village in earnest on the 10th, 200 activists reportedly withdrew voluntarily from the site.
According to local media, about 470 activists have withdrawn from the village so far, and it is estimated that 20 to 40 activists remain by the afternoon of the 13th.
(Photo = AP, Yonhap News)