ERKELENZ (dpa-AFX) - The expected evacuation of the village of Lützerath in the Rhineland lignite mining area could begin this Wednesday. The mood had already heated up noticeably beforehand. The police cleared away barricades on Tuesday on the access area, which outraged the climate activists. Occasionally it came to fisticuffs. The task forces plan a large-scale operation, which could last according to own data up to four weeks. Since Tuesday (10.1.), the police have the possibility to evacuate the village due to a general order of the Heinsberg district. This could begin at the earliest on this Wednesday.

The energy company RWE wants to excavate the coal lying under Lützerath - for this the hamlet on the territory of the city of Erkelenz is to be demolished. Climate activists have been living in vacant houses in Lützerath for months; they want to oppose the eviction.

Aachen police chief Dirk Weinspach spoke at an information event on Tuesday evening of one of the most challenging operations in recent years. He said the operation should be conducted in as de-escalating a manner as possible. The Aachen police are in charge of the operation./svv/DP/he