Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Detained Twice During Dutch Protest

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist, was detained by Dutch police during a protest in The Hague.

Joined by hundreds of demonstrators marching against fossil fuel subsidies on Saturday, April 6 2024, the protest escalated into a confrontation as police officers, some on horseback, intervened to prevent road blockages.

Ms. Thunberg was among those escorted onto a bus filled with protesters and driven away from the scene.

The demonstration aimed to condemn the Dutch government’s tax concessions for companies associated with the fossil fuel industry, including Shell and KLM.

Organized by Extinction Rebellion (XR), it was intended to add pressure on the government ahead of an upcoming debate about fossil fuel subsidies in June.

Carrying a banner reading “STOP FOSSIL SUBSIDIES,” Thunberg, alongside fellow activists, made her way through the crowd. Despite attempts to blend in, her presence drew considerable attention, elevating the visibility of the protest.

Some participants marched from the city center to a field next to the highway, encountering a barrier of local police officers. A few broke through the lines but were swiftly apprehended.

Speaking to AFP news agency, Thunberg emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, asserting the need for immediate action to mitigate its impacts.

Following her initial detention, Thunberg described the arrest as ‘peaceful’ and engaged in conversation with fellow detainees as they were transported away from the protest site.

Reports later emerged that Thunberg had been detained for a second time during the same protest, though police did not confirm her involvement.

While traffic resumed on the A12 highway, police reiterated that all individuals picked up and transported by minibuses were officially arrested for violating laws against highway obstruction.

Thunberg, known for her prominent role in climate advocacy since the age of 15, was previously acquitted, along with four co-defendants, of charges related to a climate demonstration in London.