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| Extinction Rebellion protests: UK arrests as global demonstrations begin | Extinction Rebellion protests: UK arrests as global demonstrations begin |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than 270 people have been arrested in London at the start of two weeks of protests by environmental campaigners. | More than 270 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. | Extinction Rebellion activists are protesting in cities around the world, including Berlin, Amsterdam and Sydney. |
| Organisers have blockaded key sites in central London, in addition to demonstrating outside government departments. | Organisers have blockaded key sites in central London, in addition to demonstrating outside government departments. |
| Some have glued and chained themselves to roads and vehicles, while others plan to camp overnight. | Some have glued and chained themselves to roads and vehicles, while others plan to camp overnight. |
| Extinction Rebellion claims protests in the capital will be five times bigger than similar events in April. | Extinction Rebellion claims 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. | Activists barricaded themselves to vehicles in Westminster early on Monday as the demonstrations got under way. |
| Meanwhile, hundreds of campaigners filled Trafalgar Square and blocked Lambeth and Westminster bridges. | Meanwhile, hundreds of campaigners filled Trafalgar Square and blocked Lambeth and Westminster bridges. |
| A hearse containing a coffin with the plaque Our Future was parked in Trafalgar Square, with the driver attaching himself to the steering wheel with a bicycle lock. | |
| Extinction Rebellion said a police officer later gave the hearse a parking ticket. | Extinction Rebellion said a police officer later gave the hearse a parking ticket. |
| Earlier, church leaders helped to create a "faith bridge" on Lambeth Bridge, with services and prayer vigils planned. | Earlier, church leaders helped to create a "faith bridge" on Lambeth Bridge, with services and prayer vigils planned. |
| Rev Jon Swales, 41, Mission Priest at the Church of England's Lighthouse Church in Leeds and Associate Faculty at St Hild Theological Centre, said: "The science is clear. | Rev Jon Swales, 41, Mission Priest at the Church of England's Lighthouse Church in Leeds and Associate Faculty at St Hild Theological Centre, said: "The science is clear. |
| "Unless we radically change the way we live in the world we will face the full force of climate catastrophe." | "Unless we radically change the way we live in the world we will face the full force of climate catastrophe." |
| Protesters dubbed the Red Rebels wore red robes and white face paint as they gathered outside the Cabinet Office in Whitehall. | |
| The singer Declan McKenna performed an impromptu free gig on the Mall in the evening, as people gathered in the rain to listen. | |
| The roads behind Downing Street were blocked throughout the day by protesters, some of whom had erected tents in the street and were sitting down and singing songs together. | The roads behind Downing Street were blocked throughout the day by protesters, some of whom had erected tents in the street and were sitting down and singing songs together. |
| Among the group were two girls, Esme, 11, and Rafi, nine, who had taken the day off school to attend the protests. | Among the group were two girls, Esme, 11, and Rafi, nine, who had taken the day off school to attend the protests. |
| Their mother Laurie, 41, told PA: "They've already done a spelling test this morning, sat down in the street, so we're not wasting time. | Their mother Laurie, 41, told PA: "They've already done a spelling test this morning, sat down in the street, so we're not wasting time. |
| "We've talked about the protests at home and the school knows where they are." | "We've talked about the protests at home and the school knows where they are." |
| "We're here because we want the world to still be alive when we die," said Rafi. | "We're here because we want the world to still be alive when we die," said Rafi. |
| Protesters who had glued and chained themselves outside Westminster Abbey were removed by police. | Protesters who had glued and chained themselves outside Westminster Abbey were removed by police. |
| A staggered police cordon was later set up along Millbank, near Parliament, before officers attempted to move demonstrators from Lambeth Bridge, BBC News correspondent Helena Wilkinson said. | A staggered police cordon was later set up along Millbank, near Parliament, before officers attempted to move demonstrators from Lambeth Bridge, BBC News correspondent Helena Wilkinson said. |
| Extinction Rebellion organisers told protesters to sit down and "be arrested" as police continued to try to remove them - and a police cordon later closed off Lambeth Bridge | |
| 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 in Whitehall. | 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 in Whitehall. |
| Activists were also pictured on a barge on the Thames, according to BBC reporter, Bruce Thain. | Activists were also pictured on a barge on the Thames, according to BBC reporter, Bruce Thain. |
| Two women were pictured getting married on Westminster Bridge, Extinction Rebellion said. | Two women were pictured getting married on Westminster Bridge, Extinction Rebellion said. |
| Police wearing abseiling gear and equipped with acetone syringes were seen removing protesters who had glued themselves to scaffolding in Trafalgar Square. | Police wearing abseiling gear and equipped with acetone syringes were seen removing protesters who had glued themselves to scaffolding in Trafalgar Square. |
| A string of celebrities including fashion model Daisy Lowe, actress Juliet Stevenson and comedian Ruby Wax, joined campaigners in Trafalgar Square. | A string of celebrities including fashion model Daisy Lowe, actress Juliet Stevenson and comedian Ruby Wax, joined campaigners in Trafalgar Square. |
| Stevenson said the protests were "a very wonderful action", revealing her son was attending them as a worker for Extinction Rebellion. | Stevenson said the protests were "a very wonderful action", revealing her son was attending them as a worker for Extinction Rebellion. |
| She told the Press Association: "We can't any longer allow governments to do this so we have to make it clear that there is no more time." | She told the Press Association: "We can't any longer allow governments to do this so we have to make it clear that there is no more time." |
| On Saturday, Lowe, 30, hosted a dinner to "celebrate and be educated" by Extinction Rebellion activists, and encouraged followers to join the protests. | On Saturday, Lowe, 30, hosted a dinner to "celebrate and be educated" by Extinction Rebellion activists, and encouraged followers to join the protests. |
| She wrote on Instagram: "It is a terrifying reality we live in, but we have the power to change the course of history and save our planet." | She wrote on Instagram: "It is a terrifying reality we live in, but we have the power to change the course of history and save our planet." |
| Sir Mark Rylance, the Oscar-winning actor, joined a blockade on the Mall before addressing protesters at St James' Park. | Sir Mark Rylance, the Oscar-winning actor, joined a blockade on the Mall before addressing protesters at St James' Park. |
| He said: "People have been saying to me, it doesn't make a difference having a celebrity joining the protests. | He said: "People have been saying to me, it doesn't make a difference having a celebrity joining the protests. |
| "I am confident these protests are going to lead to a solid change. Extinction Rebellion isn't going to go away." | "I am confident these protests are going to lead to a solid change. Extinction Rebellion isn't going to go away." |
| In June, Sir Mark resigned as an associate artist at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) over its partnership with BP, which the theatre company has since vowed to end. | In June, Sir Mark resigned as an associate artist at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) over its partnership with BP, which the theatre company has since vowed to end. |
| He told the crowds Greta Thurnberg, the teenage climate change activist, had inspired his decision to quit the RSC when he did. | He told the crowds Greta Thurnberg, the teenage climate change activist, had inspired his decision to quit the RSC when he did. |
| Meanwhile, activists from Animal Rebellion, a movement allied to Extinction Rebellion, marched from Russell Square to Smithfield Meat Market. | Meanwhile, activists from Animal Rebellion, a movement allied to Extinction Rebellion, marched from Russell Square to Smithfield Meat Market. |
| Organisers say they planned to remain overnight at the market to share their "vision of a future plant-based food system". | |
| On arriving at the market, protesters said they held a minute's silence for "animals whose lives are lost" at Smithfield, and then went on to set up stalls selling plant-based products inside one of the world's most famous meat-trading spaces. | On arriving at the market, protesters said they held a minute's silence for "animals whose lives are lost" at Smithfield, and then went on to set up stalls selling plant-based products inside one of the world's most famous meat-trading spaces. |
| In an update posted shortly after 17:00 BST, organisers said 11 sites remained occupied across Westminster, as groups of protesters prepared to camp out for the night. | |
| Emily, an activist from Wales, said on Twitter she planned to stay overnight. | |
| Extinction Rebellion said many activists are preparing to go on hunger strike to illustrate "that our just-in-time food system is too fragile to repeatedly withstand the shocks of extreme weather". | Extinction Rebellion said many activists are preparing to go on hunger strike to illustrate "that our just-in-time food system is too fragile to repeatedly withstand the shocks of extreme weather". |
| There were 276 arrests in connection with the protests as of 19:00 BST, according to the Metropolitan Police. | There were 276 arrests in connection with the protests as of 19:00 BST, according to the Metropolitan Police. |
| Extinction Rebellion said this included Sarah Lasenby, 81, a Quaker and retired social worker from Oxford. | 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." | 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." |
| What is Extinction Rebellion? | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | In April, the group held a large demonstration in London that brought major routes in the city to a standstill. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Extinction Rebellion organisers say they 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 say they 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. | 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, according to a spokesperson for the group. | Up to 60 other cities around the world may also be disrupted in simultaneous events, according to a spokesperson for the group. |
| Activists will call on government departments to detail their plans to tackle the climate emergency. | 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. | |
| More than 100 people were arrested in Amsterdam after they erected a tent camp on the main road outside the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch national museum | |
| The latest arrests in London come after the Met police arrested 11 people during the weekend. | 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. | 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. | 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. |