Police move on coal mine protesters barricaded in abandoned German village

Police officers take away an activist during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 11, 2023 that has highlighted tensions over Germany's climate policy during an energy crisis. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

LUETZERATH, Germany (Reuters) -Hundreds of police began clearing climate protesters out of an abandoned village on Wednesday in a showdown over the expansion of an opencast lignite mine that has highlighted tensions around Germany's climate policy during an energy crisis.

The protesters formed human chains, made a makeshift barricade out of old containers and chanted "we are here, we are loud, because you are stealing our future" as police in helmets moved in. Some threw rocks, bottles and pyrotechnics. Police also reported protesters were lobbing petrol bombs.