North Rhine-Westphalia: It's rumbling in Lützerath: preparations for evacuation

The lignite village of Lützerath is to be dredged for coal production - but is occupied by activists.

North Rhine-Westphalia: It's rumbling in Lützerath: preparations for evacuation

The lignite village of Lützerath is to be dredged for coal production - but is occupied by activists. The conflict is now heading for its hot phase. Both sides are preparing for the soon-to-be-anticipated evacuation operation.

Lützerath (dpa/lnw) - In and around the lignite village of Lützerath, preparations are to begin today for the expected evacuation of the hamlet occupied by activists. According to the police, the energy company RWE wants to work on areas next to Lützerath that would be needed for a later evacuation operation. The police are on site to secure the project against possible disruptive actions. In addition, access roads around Lützerath are to be closed from Monday and will remain closed for the time being.

At the same time, the activists are also dealing with the possible evacuation of the settlement. You have announced "action training" (11:00 a.m.) in Lützerath. "We are practicing how to block the eviction and demolition of Lützerath using various methods," the announcement said. There should also be such training sessions in other cities in the coming days. The activists try to activate supporters.

Lützerath near Erkelenz in the Heinsberg district is to be dredged for coal extraction. However, activists who want to fight for the place live in the houses whose former residents have moved away. They see no need to dig up and burn the coal. Land and houses belong to the energy company RWE.

An evacuation of Lützerath is expected in January. The district of Heinsberg has published a general decree that prohibits people from staying in Lützerath. If this eviction is not followed, the order provides the basis "for taking evacuation measures from January 10," according to the district.