A monk from Lützerath faces charges following a clash with the police.
In 2023, various actions took place protesting the eviction of the village of Lützerath. One of the events turned violent as protesters clashed with the police. A notorious activist, dressed as a monk, gained attention for pushing an officer stuck in the mud. Now, this individual is facing legal action.
The legal system has charged a French climate activist in Germany's Erkelenz District Court for allegedly attacking police officers in Lützerath. The court verified this information. The 28-year-old is accused of assaulting police officers and causing bodily harm.
Infamously known as the "Monk of Lützerath," this individual made worldwide headlines in January 2023. Videos circulating on the internet showed the figure, wearing a Franciscan monk's attire, pushing an officer who'd waded deep into the mud. At that point, the village of Lützerath was being prepared for coal mining, which led to violent confrontations with law enforcement.
The written charges claim that the defendant kicked a police officer from behind on January 14, resulting in a shoulder injury that caused shoulder pain and hematomas. It is also alleged that this person, dressed as a monk, pushed another officer twice, who was assisting a colleague stuck in the mud. Undoubtedly, this altercation was captured on video, and it went viral. The accused eco-activist was identified through several means, one of them being his connection to riots that transpired in France when wearing monk robes.
In an interview with "stern" magazine in February, the Frenchman openly acknowledged being the "Monk of Lützerath." Although remorseful, he expressed indifference: "It was kind of fun, yeah. I was actually surprised that I didn't end up in the mud myself." The court's approval of the charges is pending, and a trial date remains undecided.
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The international community has shown interest in the case, as it involves a French activist accused of crime in North Rhine-Westphalia. Despite his lighthearted comments, the monk faces serious charges of assaulting and causing bodily harm to police officers during the Lützerath protests.
