Greta Thunberg has been detained by police while attending an eco protest in a German village.
Thunberg, 20, was attending protests in Luetzerath after it was announced that the village was being demolished to make way for a new coal mine, per Sky News.
The village is said to have become the frontline of Germany's climate crisis debate after the government gave permission for the Garzweiler coal mine to expand into the region.
The 20-year-old has been detained after joining climate activists campaigning against the expansion.
It is reported that the Swedish climate activist joined up with protestors on Saturday (January 14) and this was the second time she was moved on by the police.
Police have stated that Thunberg was not arrested, but has been detained alongside other protestors and is being held for identification checks.
A spokesperson for the local Aachen police force, as cited by Sky News, claimed that Thunberg and other protestors "stormed" towards the edge of the open mine which has been described as "steep and extremely dangerous."
Germany is having to adapt how it gains energy due to its heavy reliance on Russian gas which has been impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The government, a three-way coalition including the country's Green party, insists that it is still intent on phasing out the usage of coal in the long term but it needs short-term solutions due to the gas supply from Russia being weakened due to European sanctions imposed on the country.
Activists are not keen to wait until the pledged 2030 for the usage of coal to end, and they believe bulldozing the village of Luetzerath to make way for a new coal mine will further add to greenhouse gas emissions.
Protestors moved into the area two years ago, squatting in homes abandoned by residents who had already left the area.
LuetziBleibt - translated to Luetzi is Staying - is the group behind the protests, and they claim over one hundred protestors currently occupy the village.
They were met with police in riot gear earlier this month as utility firm RWE look to accelerate their mining of lignite - which some activists regard as the most harmful form of coal.
It is currently unknown if Thunberg will face any punishments for her involvement with the protest.
