In a powerful display of climate activism, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was detained twice by police during a demonstration in the Netherlands. Thunberg and a group of marchers had blocked a main road in protest against fossil fuel subsidies. The police reported that over 400 people, including 12 for incitement, were arrested during the protests. However, activists later confirmed that Thunberg had been released.

Initially, Thunberg was detained along with other protesters who attempted to block a major highway leading to The Hague. They were held for a brief period by local police. After her release, Thunberg quickly regrouped with a small group of protesters who were blocking a different road leading to the railway station. It was here that she was detained for a second time and taken away in a police van.

The activists, belonging to the Extinction Rebellion (XR) environmental group, were marching from The Hague's city center towards the A12 arterial highway, which connects various cities including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. The demonstration aimed to exert pressure on the Dutch government ahead of an upcoming debate on fossil fuel subsidies scheduled for June.

The protesters, waving XR flags and brandishing placards with slogans such as "Stop fuel subsidies now!" and shouting "The planet is dying!", were met with a line of police officers including some on horseback, who blocked their access to the motorway. The police warned that they might resort to violence if the marchers attempted to proceed onto the road, leading to a tense standoff.

Prior to her temporary detention, Thunberg actively joined in chanting and shouting slogans. Speaking to journalists, she expressed her motivation for the protest, stating that the world is facing an existential crisis. Thunberg emphasized that action is necessary to prevent loss of life, livelihood, and the displacement of people due to climate changes, referring to them as potential climate refugees.

It is worth noting that the A12 road has witnessed numerous blockades in recent months as activists demand an end to all subsidies for the use of fossil fuels. In previous protests, detained individuals were driven by the police to different parts of the city and subsequently released without further consequences.

Thunberg, speaking to the Netherlands's ANP national news agency over the phone, described her arrest as proceeding calmly. She underscored that her focus remains on the climate crisis, stating, "It's not about the arrest. I am here for the climate."

The demonstration in the Netherlands highlights the growing urgency surrounding climate change and the ongoing efforts of activists like Greta Thunberg to demand immediate action from governments and industries.