Greta Thunberg: Environmental activist escorted out of climate protest by police hours after her trial

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg went on a protest after being convicted of disobeying law enforcement. When she refused, the police arrested her.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was removed by law enforcement from a lockdown in Malmö, Sweden, hours after her first trial, where she was convicted of disobeying police.

According to police and an AFP photographer, six activists, including Greta Thunberg, were taken away by Malmö police for “refusal to conform”. The police action comes hours after the young Swede was fined for the same facts.

He explains that he acted out of necessity

On June 19, along with other activists, Greta Thunberg blocked the same port to protest the use of fossil fuels and refused to obey police orders.

“It’s true that I was there that day and I received an order that I didn’t ask for, but I want to refuse,” he appealed to the Malmo court on Monday, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

He explained that he had acted “unnecessarily” in the face of a climate emergency. “In my opinion, we are in an emergency situation and for this reason, my action is justified,” he reasoned at a press conference after his hearing.

In theory facing six months in prison, a rarely pronounced sentence in this type of case, the activist must pay a fine of 1,500 crowns (130 euros) and 1,000 crowns (86 euros) in compensation.