Teen climate activist meets Merkel to press for tougher action
A SERIES of security alerts across Belfast have been declared hoaxes, police have said.
Four suspicious objects were found on Ormeau Road and Lavinia Square in south Belfast, and Lepper Street and Victoria Parade in north Belfast. Army technical officers declared the objects a hoax.
Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: “In total, 15 homes were evacuated during the alerts, which caused significant disruption to the residents in the area. We thank those directly impacted for their co-operation during this security operation.
“Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone with any information to contact police on 101 quoting reference 692 20/08/20.”
YOUNG activists including Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg have met German Chancellor Angela Merkel to press their demands for tougher action to curb climate change.
Bomb disposal officers prepare to examine an explosive device in Lapper Street in the New Lodge district of Belfast. Right: a bomb disposal officer on his way to deal with an explosive device in the garden of a house on Victoria Parade in the New Lodge
Ms Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer from Germany and Belgians Anuna de Wever van der Heyden and Adelaide Charlier were accompanied by a handful of climate protesters as they arrived at the chancellery for a 90-minute meeting.
They are the
first high-profile talks the youth activists have held with a world leader since the start of the pandemic.
“We are here, we are loud, because our future’s being stolen,” the protesters chanted as Ms Thunberg was mobbed by photographers. The 17-year-old shot to fame after starting her solo protests outside the Swedish parliament two years ago.
Students around the world began following her lead, staging regular large protests, and Ms Thunberg was invited to speak at UN conferences and the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. But the coronavirus outbreak has prevented the movement that Ms Thunberg inspired from holding its mass rallies in recent months.
“I’m actually surprised that we were able to do this so quickly,” Ms Thunberg said after her meeting with Mrs Merkel.
“It feels good, I would say.”