Greta Thunberg removed by Norway police amid wind farm indigenous protest

The young Swedish activist was carried off by two police officers while blocking a door at a government ministry in Oslo

She was part of group protesting against wind turbines in reindeer herding areas; Sami families have practised reindeer husbandry for centuries

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Police in Oslo remove Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg during a demonstration against wind turbines on land used by indigenous people. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:25pm, 1 Mar 2023

Activist Greta Thunberg and indigenous Sami activists were forcibly removed by police on Wednesday as they blocked access to Norwegian ministries in protest over wind turbines on reindeer herding land.

Police started to break up the demonstrations in Oslo by physically carrying away members of the group, who were protesting against the use of turbines in herding areas in the Fosen region of western Norway.

Thunberg was carried off by two police officers while she was blocking a door at the finance ministry, according to footage on Norwegian television.

The turbines are still in operation despite a landmark ruling more than a year ago by the Norwegian Supreme Court that the project violated the right of Sami families to practise their culture of reindeer husbandry, which they have done for centuries.

The protest began on February 23 when a handful of Sami activists, dressed in their traditional blue and red costumes, occupied the entrance hall of the energy ministry.

A growing number of activists then began blocking access to other ministries this week, gradually expanding to more official buildings. They were joined by Sweden’s Greta Thunberg on Sunday.