Activists attempted to disrupt a shipment of radioactive fuel

On 9 November 2008 anti-riot police officers clashed with hundreds of anti-nuclear protesters in northern Germany. Anti-nuclear activists attempted to disrupt a shipment of radioactive fuel traveling by rail from France to a storage facility located near Gorleben. Several sections of the railway line were set on fire; police officers suspect that anti-nuclear activists were responsible. Riot police officers clashed with at least 700 protesters, dispersing them with water cannons. Several injuries to protesters and riot officers were reported. Sources reported that this was the largest anti-nuclear protest in Germany since 2001.