Germany: Police deny staging a protest detention of Greta Thunberg

• A viral post falsely claimed the climate activist was being held by police.
• Millions of people have watched the video of her being removed by police.
• The viral video shows the climate activist flanked on both sides by police officers.

German police have denied acting as “extras for Greta Thunberg” following false claims that her arrest at a protest in western Germany was staged.

A viral post falsely claimed the climate activist being held by police was “all set up for the cameras”.

Ms. Thunberg and other activists were attempting to prevent the demolition of the abandoned village of Lützerath in order to expand a coal mine.

Millions of people have watched the video of her being removed by police.

“We would never give ourselves up to make such recordings,” a local police spokesperson said.

However, it is critical that the police facilitate reporting and protect media workers, they added.

The viral video shows the climate activist flanked on both sides by police officers.

Meanwhile, as Ms. Thunberg smiles, a few photographers can be seen taking photos and moving around her.

Several other cops standing nearby appear to be waiting with her before walking her away from the scene.

Some people on the internet have jumped on these moments of officers and Ms. Thunberg waiting to falsely claim that they are part of a staged photo opportunity.

The interior ministry of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, on the other hand, stated that the police officers and Ms. Thunberg were being held for logistical reasons.

“They had to wait a couple of minutes before they could bring her to a specific police car,” the spokesperson explained.

Ms. Thunberg Tweeted

Yesterday I was part of a group that peacefully protested the expansion of a coal mine in Germany. We were kettled by police and then detained but were let go later that evening.

Climate protection is not a crime.#LuetziBleibt #LuetziLebt #KeepItInTheGround #ClimateJustice

— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 18, 2023

According to police, the activists were detained after they “rushed towards the ledge” of the Garzweiler 2 mine on Tuesday.

Officers also stated that none of those detained would face charges.

Ms. Thunberg has frequently been the target of online conspiracy theories and false claims, often from those who deny the existence of man-made climate change.

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