Before the planned evacuation of the village of Lützerath in the Rhenish lignite mining area, scuffles broke out between police officers and climate activists on Monday.
The activists threw firecrackers, bottles and stones, and there was scuffle, reported dpa reporters on site. A police spokesman said criminal proceedings for breach of the peace would be initiated because of the firecrackers and stone throwing.
Activists had previously positioned themselves behind a burning barricade on the access road to Lützerath. This barricade was cleared away by the police in the afternoon, as was a superstructure over the access road.
Several activists who were on it were brought down by rescuers, the police spokesman said. “This is not the beginning of the eviction,” he stressed. Rather, preparatory work for the planned evacuation would be carried out in the middle of the month.
Lützerath southwest of Düsseldorf is to be dredged for coal extraction. However, activists who want to fight for the place live in the houses. “The coal under Lützerath must remain in the ground,” said Antje Bussberg from the “All Villages Remain” initiative on Monday, with a view to the climate-damaging energy source.
The coal under Lützerath must remain in the ground
Antje Bussberg from the “All Villages Remain” initiative
On the other hand, the energy group RWE announced: “The use of the former settlement this winter is necessary to ensure a secure supply of the power plants in the midst of the energy crisis.”
The legality was finally confirmed by the courts. “All of the original residents of Lützerath have left the place,” said RWE.
The police rely on de-escalation and transparency. “We will only use coercive measures if it is not otherwise possible in the sense of a proportionate and consistent intervention or to prosecute criminal offenses,” assured Aachen police chief Dirk Weinspach.
“I appeal not to combine the protest against an eviction with the commission of criminal offences.” (dpa)
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