LÜTZERATH (dpa-AFX) - Immediately outside the lignite village of Lützerath, scuffles broke out between police officers and climate activists on Monday. The activists had thrown firecrackers, bottles and stones at the police, dpa reporters reported on site. Afterwards, the situation initially calmed down again. Subsequently, the police withdrew.

Previously, activists had positioned themselves behind a burning barricade. An activist from the "Last Generation" alliance had his left hand taped to the access road.

A police spokesman said that the evacuation of Lützerath was not yet scheduled for Monday. However, preparatory work for the planned large-scale operation in mid-January would be carried out. Energy company RWE, which owns the houses and land, said it was closing off three rural roads.

Lützerath, southwest of Düsseldorf, is to be mined for coal. In the houses, whose former inhabitants moved away, live however activists, who want to fight for the place. They see no need for the mining and burning of the coal. RWE, on the other hand, says that Lützerath must be demolished in order to ensure a secure supply of coal to the power plants in the midst of the energy crisis./DP/ngu