Activists left the tunnel voluntarily: eviction ended
Created: 01/16/2023 13:59
Demolition work after the evacuation in Lützerath.
©Oliver Berg/dpa
According to the energy company RWE, the two activists who were last still in an underground tunnel under Lützerath left their position voluntarily.
The group announced on Monday that it was “relieved” that the “life-threatening situation” had ended in this way.
"A rescue from the tunnel against the announced resistance of the people would have been associated with high risks, also for the rescue workers," it said.
Erkelenz - The Lützerath activists also said on Twitter that the two people had left the tunnel "themselves".
"A thousand thanks for your life-threatening action against lignite and capitalism," they wrote.
According to RWE, both people left Lützerath "as the last activists".
The police clearance has ended.
The dismantling of the former settlement will be completed "in the coming days".
The village of Lützerath, a district of Erkelenz west of Cologne, has been cordoned off by the police for days and is surrounded by a double fence.
The few buildings in the settlement will be demolished to enable the energy company RWE to excavate the lignite underneath.
However, resistance had formed against the demolition and the planned excavation of the coal.
dpa