Ayhan Simsek
16 January 2023•Update: 17 January 2023
BERLIN
German climate activists will stage new protests on Tuesday against the expansion of a coal mine in the western village of Lutzerath.
The environmental group Ende Gelande has announced on its website that together with other activists, they will stage a protest against plans to demolish the village.
"We are not finished yet. Together with many other groups, we will continue to defend Lutzerath on Tuesday in a big action!" the group said.
Police clears activists from village
German police on Monday removed the last activists from the village on the sixth day of the operation to evict the protest camp.
Two activists, who were holding out in an underground tunnel, left the tunnel themselves, activists said on Twitter.
The demolition of the barricades and structures continued, and most of the buildings in Lutzerath were no longer standing.
Protest camp in Keyenberg
Hundreds of climate activists gathered at a protest camp in the neighboring village of Keyenberg and make preparations for tomorrow's demonstration.
Meanwhile, a group of climate activists in wheelchairs blocked a highway near Lutzerath for several hours by rappelling from a bridge.
Lutzerath was occupied by anti-coal activists for two years and became a symbol for environmentalist groups demanding an end to the use of coal and fossil fuels.
The energy company RWE is planning to demolish the village to expand the Garzweiler coal mine.
The company said in a statement that the coal under Lutzerath is needed "to make optimal use" of the lignite fleet during the energy crisis.
