LONDON, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - At least 80 environmental activists were detained in Nottinghamshire, U.K., during protests near one of the country's largest coal-fired power stations, British media has reported.
About 1,000 environmentalists, carrying banners and cardboard gravestones bearing the words 'RIP E.ON' and 'RIP Ratcliffe' made several attempts on Saturday to break through the electric fence and barbed wire and halt the electricity production. They say that the power plant, run by Germany's E.On, does not comply with environmental demands, and must be halted immediately.
A local online news portal, thisisnottingham.co.uk, quoted a protestor as saying that their aim was to show that "coal has no future."
"Ratcliffe-on-Soar emits more CO2 every year than Costa Rica - and that is just one power station," he said.
The activists have managed to tear a ten-meter hole in the fence and tried to break into the premises of the plant, but a wall of 40 policemen quickly filled the gap.
"Despite work to engage with protestors they made concerted attempts to tear down perimeter fencing... This required officers to change their polcing style which has resulted in more arrests and potential prosecutions," the portal quoted a police spokesman as saying.
An environmental activist has been taken to hospital. Three police officers received various injuries, one of them was hospitalized with concussion but later released. The other two received medical treatment at the scene.
Police has blocked roads leading to the station.
The campaigners pledge to continue protests over the weekend with police saying they "will remain at the power station for as long as necessary."
