With the departure of the last climate activists from Lützerath, the clearing of the lignite site ended on Monday. According to Reul, 102 police officers were injured. “Since the start of the eviction, not just in the previous week, we have written around 200 ads against squatters and demonstrators,” he added. The range of criminal offenses includes assault, resistance, breach of the peace and theft.
Reul also warned of “unsubstantiated” allegations of violence against the police: “I am not prepared to accept these blanket, unsubstantiated descriptions of demonstrators being hit in the head. These allegations have to be proven.”
The CDU politician also criticized West German Broadcasting (WDR) reporting on the eviction of Lützerath: “WDR endangers its reputation if it broadcasts a radical group live for 50 minutes.” According to “Bild”, Reul was referring to a press conference by climate activists, which WDR broadcast live and uncommented for 50 minutes on Sunday. “This press conference bordered on propaganda by radical activists. And the WDR broadcast it happily,” criticized Reul.
