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Extinction Rebellion protests: UK arrests as global demonstrations begin | Extinction Rebellion protests: UK arrests as global demonstrations begin |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than 20 people have been arrested in London at the start of two weeks of protests by environmental campaigners. | More than 20 people have been arrested in London at the start of two weeks of protests by environmental campaigners. |
Extinction Rebellion activists are protesting in cities around the world, including Berlin, Amsterdam and Sydney. | |
Organisers have planned to shut down key sites in central London, in addition to demonstrating outside government departments. | |
Extinction Rebellion says protests in the capital will be five times bigger than similar events in April. | Extinction Rebellion says protests in the capital will be five times bigger than similar events in April. |
The protests are calling for urgent action on global climate and wildlife emergencies. | The protests are calling for urgent action on global climate and wildlife emergencies. |
Activists barricaded themselves to vehicles in Westminster early on Monday as the demonstrations got under way. | |
Police were seen cutting two protesters from a car that had blocked Victoria Embankment, while campaigners also locked themselves to a mock Trident missile outside the Ministry of Defence. | |
Meanwhile, crowds of campaigners blocked Westminster and Lambeth bridges. | |
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said there were 21 arrests in connection with the protests by 8am. | A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said there were 21 arrests in connection with the protests by 8am. |
Extinction Rebellion said this included Sarah Lasenby, 81, a Quaker and retired social worker from Oxford. | |
Ms Lasenby, who the group says was part of efforts to block Embankment, said: "It is imperative that the government should take serious actions and put pressure on other states and global powers to radically reduce the use of fossil fuels." | |
Extinction Rebellion organisers are expecting up to 30,000 people to take part in the fortnight-long demonstrations in the capital, which form part of an "international rebellion". | Extinction Rebellion organisers are expecting up to 30,000 people to take part in the fortnight-long demonstrations in the capital, which form part of an "international rebellion". |
Similar protests in the UK earlier this year brought major disruption to London and resulted in more than 1,100 arrests. | |
Up to 60 other cities around the world may also be disrupted in simultaneous events from Monday, according to a spokesperson for the group. | Up to 60 other cities around the world may also be disrupted in simultaneous events from Monday, according to a spokesperson for the group. |
Campaigners are expected to block sites around Westminster including government departments, roads and bridges, and hold a sit-in at London City Airport. | Campaigners are expected to block sites around Westminster including government departments, roads and bridges, and hold a sit-in at London City Airport. |
The Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square are also expected to be targeted, alongside processions and marches. | |
Activists will call on government departments to detail their plans to tackle the climate emergency. | |
Police in Australia and New Zealand have already arrested dozens of Extinction Rebellion activists on Monday. | Police in Australia and New Zealand have already arrested dozens of Extinction Rebellion activists on Monday. |
Some 30 campaigners in Sydney were charged with committing offences after hundreds of protesters blocked a busy road. | Some 30 campaigners in Sydney were charged with committing offences after hundreds of protesters blocked a busy road. |
The latest arrests in London come after the Met police arrested 11 people during the weekend. | |
A spokesperson for the force said eight people were arrested on Saturday after previously reporting 10. They have all been released under investigation. | |
One woman and two men were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance. The men remain in custody while the woman has been released under investigation. | |
More than 1,000 people attended an "opening ceremony" at Marble Arch on Sunday night, which featured meditation and dancing. | |
What is Extinction Rebellion? | |
Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a "climate and ecological emergency" and take immediate action to address climate change. | |
It describes itself as an international "non-violent civil disobedience activist movement". | |
Extinction Rebellion was launched in 2018 and organisers say it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. | |
In April, the group held a large demonstration in London that brought major routes in the city to a standstill. | |
Read more here. |