15 January 2023 , 17:27
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Eco-warrior Greta Thunberg has been manhandled by police from a protest in Germany.
The 20-year-old Swede had been at an anti-coal mine demonstration Lützerath when officers led her away.
Video showed dozens of police in riot gear at the event moving in on the crowd and so far have removed around 300 people - including renowned climate campaigner.
The activists arrived in the west German village as it is due to be demolished to make way for a coal mine expansion.
According to German publication Bild, Greta refused to move away from a mound of earth and was seen smiling as she was physically picked up by police officers.
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Protesters face off against riot police over the potential razing of Luetzerath (Getty Images)Several violent clashes broke out between protesters on Saturday, with reports saying pepper spray was fired by police.
Ahead of the weekend's protests Greta tweeted: "We are currently in Lützerath, a German village threatened to be demolished for an expansion of a coal mine.
"People have been resisting for years. This Saturday 14/1 I will join activists in Lützerath to defend the village and stop the coalmine. Join us at 12.00 to protect life, and put people over profit!
Greta Thunberg talks to crowds during Saturday's protests (Getty Images)"The science is clear, the most affected people are clear: no more fossil fuels!"
Protesters have occupied the empty village for several months in an attempt to stop the planned demolition of Lützerath.
Environmentalists say bulldozing the village to expand the Garzweiler mine would result in huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
Protesters at the abandoned village in Germany (Getty Images)The government and utility company RWE argue the coal is needed to ensure Germany's energy security.
More than 1,000 police moved in last week to remove protesters and demolished several temporary tree house structures, as well as other makeshift buildings.
The protests come after the regional and national governments, both of which include the environmentalist Green party, reached a deal with RWE last year allowing it to destroy the abandoned village in return for ending coal use by 2030, rather than 2038.
German police have confirmed the village has now been cleared of activists, other a pair who remained holed up in a tunnel.
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The operation to evict climate activists holed up in the village kicked off on Wednesday morning. In the first three days of the operation, police said that about 470 people had left the site, 320 of them voluntarily.
Earlier today protest group Lützerath Lebt claimed a woman's hand was broken by police during the scuffles on Saturday.
They tweeted: "Police violence: The Greens have climate protectors beaten up."
Protester Einem says his hand was broken.
He said: "With this asymmetrical distribution of power, humour is our weapon.
"Those in armor bludgeon the defenseless. They break our bones, but not our spirit."