Anti-coal protesters rally around farm in western Germany

At least 1,000 opponents of coal mining protested in Luetzerath in western Germany on Sunday against lignite mining in the area, reported dpa.

Fridays for Future, Greenpeace and other groups had called for the demonstration in front of a farm near the Garzweiler open-cast mine that is scheduled for demolition.

The farm, the whole village and other villages are to make way for coal mining according to the plans.

The police said there were over 1,000 participants, the organizers spoke of 5,000.

"Anyone who wants to slow down the climate crisis must no longer allow the destruction of villages for the climate killer lignite," said Greenpeace climate expert Bastian Neuwirth.

The energy company RWE, the operator of the opencast mine, had already announced that it would refrain from demolition work for the time being.

They want to wait for a court decision on whether the demolition can go ahead.