Police move on coal mine protesters barricaded in abandoned German village

Police officers scuffle with activists during a protest against the expansion of Germany's utility RWE's Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine to Luetzerath, Germany, January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Christian Mang

Police officers carry a demonstrator during a protest against the expansion of Germany's utility RWE's Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine to Luetzerath, Germany, January 14. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

Police officers detain climate activist Greta Thunberg on the day of a protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE to Luetzerath, in Germany, January 17. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

Activists demonstrate during a protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE in Neurath, Germany, January 17. REUTERS/Erol Dogrudogan

Activists demonstrate during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Police officers try to enter a building during a protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 13. REUTERS/Christian Mang

Activists living on tree houses protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 13. REUTERS/Christian Mang

Police officers stand guard during a protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 13. REUTERS/Christian Mang

Police officers raid a makeshift house set up by activists, during in a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

Police officers enter a building during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Police officers climb to the housing area during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

Police officers keep guard as activists demonstrate during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Activists hold a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Police officers enter a building during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

A police officer tries to remove a glued hand from a window during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

Police officers enter a building during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Police officers detain an activist sitting on a roof during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Police officers enter a building during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Activists demonstrate at the housing area during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

Police officers check a house during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

Police officers keep guard as activists stage a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 11.  REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Police officers and activists clash during a demonstration at Luetzerath, a village that is about to be demolished to allow for the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 11....more

Police officers try to evict people from the tree houses as activists take part in 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. REUTERS/Christian...more

Demonstrators throw Molotow cocktails and fireworks at police officers, during a protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE in Luetzerath, Germany January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Benjamin Westhoff

An excavator removes a construction as activists stage 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. REUTERS/Christian Mang

A police member opens the door of a barn as activists take part in 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. REUTERS/Christian Mang

Police officers stand at a barn as activists stage 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.  REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

An activist throws mud from a rooftop 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.  REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Police officers stand guard as activists stage 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.  REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

A barricade is removed 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.  REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

An activist standing on a rope leans with his hand glued to the wall of a barn 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....more

Police officers detain 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.  REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

"X" Structure symbol is removed as police clash with activists 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.  REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

An activist takes part in 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.  REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Activists stage 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. REUTERS/Christian Mang

Activists form "Luetzi Stays" using pavement stones during a demonstration at Luetzerath, a village that is about to be demolished to allow for the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany,...more

Police officers keep guard as an activist demonstrates at Luetzerath, a village that is about to be demolished to allow for the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 11, 2023....more

A police officer takes away an activist on a trolley 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.  REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

A general view shows tree houses as activists take part in 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. REUTERS/Christian Mang

Police officers surround activists during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12, 2023 that has highlighted tensions over Germany's climate policy...more

A police officer tries to remove a glued hand from a window during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12, 2023 that has highlighted tensions over...more

Police officers keep guard as activists demonstrate during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12, 2023 that has highlighted tensions over Germany's...more

An activist stands with a flare at one of the tree houses during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12, 2023 that has highlighted tensions over...more

A police officer stands guard during a sit-in protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast lignite mine of Germany's utility RWE, in Luetzerath, Germany, January 12, 2023 that has highlighted tensions over Germany's climate policy during...more