German police arrested famed environmental activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday. According to a video of ongoing protests against the expansion of a coal mine.
He was later released, police said.
Video and still images show police carrying 20-year-old Thunberg by his arms. And legs in riot gear, west of Cologne and near the Garzweiler coal mine.
As seen in the video, Thunberg did not appear to be in distress and was laughing at the point of her apprehension.
Thunberg and other protesters “leaned” over the edge of the open-cast mine. Which is steep and dangerous, said a police spokesman in the far western city of Aachen. Which borders Belgium and the Netherlands.
Thunberg and other protesters were detained for identification, said police. Who added that no arrests had been made.
“A high profile is not carte blanche,” a police spokesman told. Britain’s Sky News when asked about Thunberg’s detention.
After checking their IDs, the group, including Thunberg, was released, police said.
The small village has been the focus of anti-government protests by environmentalists.
Climate activists say the planned expansion of coal mining will emit huge amounts of greenhouse gases. And violate German commitments to the 2015 Paris climate accord.
Thunberg shared photos and videos of ongoing German protests over the weekend.
“We are currently in Luzern. A German village threatened with demolition for a coal mine expansion.” He wrote in a tweeted photo of himself with other protesters. “People have been resisting for years.”
