Police and activists faced off during protests in Hambach Forest on Sunday, as part of ongoing resistance to the planned expansion of a coal mine.
Thousands of anti-coal protesters on Sunday gathered in cold, rainy conditions in Hambach Forest, near the western German city of Aachen, to demonstrate against the expansion of an open-cut lignite mine in the area of woodland.
Organizers said some 7,000 attended the protest — 2,000 more than expected — but police have not verified the figure.
DW’s Louisa Wright was at the protests and filmed the activists carrying trees through the wood:
A court on Saturday confirmed a ban on the original “woodland walk” planned by organizers, saying it was likely that a number of walkers would break off from the stroll to join activists, leading to a large-scale demonstration that could not be properly secured. Authorities thus allowed only a fixed demonstration at one location.
The forest was bought by German utility RWE decades ago to expand lignite mining. Protests were triggered after the company announced plans to clear the forest further as of fall to make way for mine enlargement.