Climate activist Greta Thunberg detained at Brussels demo

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was among dozens of protesters detained Saturday (5 October) for blocking a road in the Belgian capital at a demonstration against fossil fuel subsidies.

An AFP journalist saw the iconic Swede -- who has previously been detained for civil disobedience at protests in various countries -- carried away by police after refusing to leave a sit-in.

Thunberg, 21, was part of a smaller group of demonstrators who broke away from a march organised by the United for Climate Justice movement that began outside the European Parliament.

The rally was calling for the European Union -- headquartered in Brussels -- to end subsidies for fossil fuels in order to achieve its ambitious goal of making the continent carbon neutral by 2050.

"This will not happen without an immediate phase out of fossil fuel subsidies," climate activists, scientists and economists wrote in an open letter to EU leaders.

"Until these necessary changes occur, people will continue to take to the streets to make our voices heard and hold you accountable."

Embarcing the Palestinian cause

Three days ago the Danish police detained Thunberg at a Copenhagen protest against the war in Gaza and Israel's occupation of the West Bank.

Thunberg was later released from detention, according to Danish media reports, and the daily Ekstra Bladet showed video footage of her walking out of a police station.

Six people had been detained at the Copenhagen University after about 20 people blocked the entrance to a building and three entered, a police spokesperson said without commenting on individual detainees.

Widely known for her campaign to end man-made climate change, Thunberg has increasingly taken up the Palestinian cause and said in May such protests "should be everywhere".