Police in western Germany
are removing climate change protesters from an open-cast coalmine after
hundreds of them stormed the site.
Activists broke through a police cordon on Saturday to get into the Garzweiler mine, in a campaign against fossil fuel use.
Many protesters are resisting attempts by police to clear the huge site.
Police have warned that the mine is not safe, and said some officers were hurt as they tried to hold back protesters.
Germany has vowed to go carbon neutral by 2050 but activists say this is not soon enough.
Recent surveys have shown that climate change tops a list of concerns
in Germany, with the Green party polling alongside the governing
Christian Democrats. Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESPolice tried to hold back protesters from entering the mine, which they said was dangerous
Police used pepper spray to try to stop activists from reaching the
site. Each side accused the other of using unnecessary force.
Earlier, protesters temporarily blocked a railway line used to transport coal
Some of the activists were among between 20,000 and 40,000 protesters
who joined a demonstration on Friday in the city of Aachen in support
of the school strike movement launched by Swedish teenager Greta
Thunberg. Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESDressed in white protective clothing, protesters ran over the sides of the mine to enter the premisesImage copyrightGETTY IMAGESAfter storming the mine, activists used foil blankets to shield themselves from the sunImage copyrightGETTY IMAGESClimate activists blocked the rail tracks leading to the Hambach surface mine
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