Greta Thunberg’s speech to thousands in Amsterdam is hijacked by man who told her ‘I’ve come for a climate demonstration, not a political view’ after she invited a Palestinian and an Afghan woman on stage

• The man came onto the stage and grabbed the mic after Ms Thunberg said: ‘The people in power have not been listening’

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was briefly interrupted today by a man who approached her on stage, after she invited a Palestinian and an Afghan woman to speak at a climate protest in Amsterdam.

Ms Thunberg was talking to a crowd of tens of thousands when she asked the women to join her on the stage.

‘As a climate justice movement, we have to listen to the voices of those who are being oppressed and those who are fighting for freedom and for justice. Otherwise, there can be no climate justice without international solidarity,’ she said.

After the Palestinian and Afghan woman, Sahar Shirzad, spoke and Ms Thunberg resumed her speech, noting that ‘the people in power have not been listening,’ a man came onto the stage and interrupted her, grabbing the mic. 

‘I have come here for a climate demonstration, not a political view,’ he said, before he was ushered off as crowd members booed. 

Ms Thunberg then grabbed the mic back and repeated: ‘Calm down.’

After a brief pause she started chanting: ‘No climate justice on occupied land.’

The man’s identity was not clear. He was wearing a jacket with the name of a group called Water Natuurlijk that has elected members in Dutch water boards.

Before Ms Thunberg took to the stage, the event was briefly interrupted as a small group of activists at the front of the crowd waved Palestinian flags and chanted pro-Palestinian slogans.

She appeared undeterred and was later seen dancing behind the stage as a band played.

The incident came after tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Amsterdam calling for more action to tackle climate change in a mass protest just 10 days before a national election.

Organisers claimed that 70,000 people took part in the march and called it the biggest climate protest in the Netherlands.

Carrying placards reading: ‘Our house is on fire’, ‘In 2050: Daddy, what are trees?’, and ‘Climate Justice Now,’ demonstrators packed into Amsterdam’s central square and set off through the streets. 

Ms Thunberg was among those walking through the historic heart of the Dutch capital.

Political leaders including former European Union climate chief Frans Timmermans, who now leads a centre-left, two-party bloc in the election campaign, later addressed the crowd in a square behind the landmark Rijksmuseum.

‘We live in a time of crises, all of which are the result of the political choices that have been made. It has to be done and it can be done differently,’ the organiser, Climate Crisis Coalition, said in a statement.

While the coalition included the Fridays for Future youth movement, protesters were all ages and included a large contingent of medics in white coats carrying a banner emblazoned with the text: ‘Climate crisis = health crisis’. 

‘I am a paediatrician. I’m here standing up for the rights of children,’ said Laura Sonneveld. ‘Children are the first to be affected by climate change.’

Tackling climate change is one of the key policy areas for political parties contesting the November 22 general election.

‘It is time for us to protest about government decisions,’ said Margje Weijs, a Spanish teacher and youth coach. ‘I hope this influences the election.’