BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has condemned the methods used by climate activists during the evacuation of the Lower Rhine lignite village of Lützerath. "With burning barricades, a tunnel in danger of collapsing and rickety tree houses at great heights, activists have not only put themselves in great danger, but also the emergency forces," the SPD politician wrote in a statement on Monday. "This is irresponsible," Faeser added.

The many injured police officers are a bitter result of the operation, the minister criticized. Political conflicts should not be carried out on the backs of emergency forces, she said. "Those who want to force their concerns with violence are abandoning democratic discourse," Faeser stressed. One risks thereby the support of the society for the fight against the climate crisis.

The "individual accusations of violence by police officers" against activists will also be investigated, according to the minister. "If the accusations are confirmed, they must have consequences," Faeser made clear./slb/DP/jha