DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - The climate activists in Lützerath are, according to the assessment of the North Rhine-Westphalia Office for the Protection of the Constitution, in their vast majority "civil democratic actors." "Nevertheless, a few left-wing extremists are also active in the protest scene," the agency announced on Friday. Before the hot phase of mobilization ahead of the expected eviction of the site, about 130 activists had been there, including 30 who were prepared to use violence, it said. However, these numbers could vary. The "Neue Westfälische" (Bielefeld) had reported.

In the observation of the left-wing extremist scene, it was noted that left-wing extremists repeatedly try to appear within civil democratic protests as allies, it was said by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Left-wing extremists wanted to use current issues such as climate change to introduce protest groups to forms of action that could result in a direct confrontation with the police and the rule of law.

The energy company RWE wants to demolish the village of Lützerath, which belongs to Erkelenz, in order to mine the coal underneath. This, they say, is necessary for energy supply. Activists deny this and have occupied the abandoned settlement. In the middle of the month, Lützerath is to be cleared by the police./cd/DP/ngu