Climate activist Greta Thunberg detained twice during protest in Netherlands

Climate activist Greta Thunberg on Saturday (Apr 5) was detained by police twice during a protest in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Thunberg was first taken into custody and held for a brief period of time by the local police along with other demonstrators who tried to obstruct a key highway leading to The Hague.

Following her initial release, the famous climate activist instantly rejoined a small group of protesters who were obstructing a different route that led to the railway station.  

Thunberg, before her arrest told media that the reason why she was protesting was that currently, the world is experiencing an existential crisis.

“The world is facing an existential crisis … creating climate refugees”.

“We are in a planetary emergency and we are not going to stand by and let people lose their lives and livelihood and be forced to become climate refugees when we can do something,” she said.

The march was organised by the Extinction Rebellion environmental group (XR), who have in the past flooded the highway and obstructed traffic for hours until they were taken away by police after being sprayed by a water canon.

Carrying XR flags and placards saying “Stop fuel subsidies now!” and “The planet is dying!”, activists were locked in a tense standoff with police who formed a wall of law enforcement.

They tried to block the A12 highway, which in recent months has been blocked multiple times by the demonstrators who demanded an end to fossil fuel subsidies.

Previously during protests, the police detained activists in another part of town, who were released without further consequences.

XR environmental group released a statement saying, “Meanwhile the ecological crisis continues to rage and the country’s outgoing cabinet pretends that we have all the time in the world, while the crisis is now.”

(With inputs from agencies)