Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist, has been accused of staging her arrest after she was detained by German police.
The 20-year-old activist was detained by law enforcement on Tuesday while protesting the expansion of a coal mine in western Germany.
According to Reuters, the police had warned the young activist, along with a group of protesters, that they would be “removed by force if they did not move away from the edge of the mine.”
Reuters also reported that Thunberg was released from custody after an identity check.
Videos of the arrest sent Twitter users on a frenzy accusing the activist of staging her own arrest.
Was Greta Thunberg’s Arrest Fake?
Misbar’s team found that Greta Thunberg was in fact detained for an Identity check in Germany.
Local police spokesperson denied the allegations to the BBC, saying: “We would never give ourselves to make such recordings.”
The BBC also reported that the interior ministry of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia said that the police officers and the activist were waiting for “logistical reasons.”
"They had to wait for a couple of minutes before they could bring her to a certain police car," said the spokesperson.
Thunberg also tweeted about the incident: “Yesterday I was part of a group that peacefully protested the expansion of a coal mine in Germany. We were kettled by police and then detained but were let go later that evening. Climate protection is not a crime.”
Climate Change Activists’ Reliance on the Media Attention
The recent incident of Greta Thunberg’s arrest is a good example of why climate change activists capitalize on the attention of the media and social media.
Climate change activists believe that the issue of climate change is not receiving the attentionit deserves. Therefore, staging protests and acts of civil disobedience can help to bring the issue to the forefront of public attention.
Some activists have taken extreme measures such as attempting to vandalise valuable artwork to attract attention to the cause.
Who is Greta Thunberg?
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who gained international attention for her campaign to raise awareness climate change and climate protection.
Thunberg began her activism at the age of 15, by protesting outside the Swedish parliament, demanding stronger action on climate change.
Her message has reached millions of people and raised awareness about the pressing need to address the climate crisis.
Thunberg has been invited to speak at various international conferences and events, such as the United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019, where she delivered a powerful speech. She has also been invited to meet with world leaders, including the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and former U.S. President, Barack Obama.
Thunberg has been the target of a lot of criticism, defamation, and cyber bullying. Most recently, she has publicly quarrelled with the controversial internet influencer Andrew Tate.
Misbar’s Sources
