50 climate activists arrested for stopping coal-laden train in Australia

By Anadolu Staff

ANKARA (AA) - Dozens of protesters were arrested after they halted a coal-laden train in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) and started shoveling coal out of the wagons, local media reported on Sunday.

Climate activists brought the train to a standstill a few kilometers from the Newcastle port as it passed through Sandgate, near the Pacific highway, according to the New Daily website.

At least 50 people have been charged and arrested for holding the "unlawful" protest, the police said.

About 20 members of the group, New Daily reported, climbed onto the train and began unloading coal from the wagons.

Another 30 people supported the unloading of coal on the railway line.

Thermal and metallurgical coal make up the bulk of the $71 billion worth of goods that pass through Newcastle, the world's largest coal export port, each year.