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Extinction Rebellion: Central London targeted despite ban | Extinction Rebellion: Central London targeted despite ban |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Extinction Rebellion protests continued in central London despite police banning the group's climate change demonstrations in the capital. | Extinction Rebellion protests continued in central London despite police banning the group's climate change demonstrations in the capital. |
Activists blocked Oxford Circus with a wooden pyramid structure and descended on Westminster before moving to Trafalgar Square. | Activists blocked Oxford Circus with a wooden pyramid structure and descended on Westminster before moving to Trafalgar Square. |
One man, who was dressed up as Boris Johnson, scaled the scaffolding surrounding Big Ben. | |
More than 1,760 arrests have been made in connection with the London protests. | More than 1,760 arrests have been made in connection with the London protests. |
A "closing ceremony" to mark the end of nearly two weeks of protests was held in Trafalgar Square. | A "closing ceremony" to mark the end of nearly two weeks of protests was held in Trafalgar Square. |
Protesters moved there from Westminster, where an activist was arrested after climbing the scaffolding around the Elizabeth Tower. | |
He then unfurled an Extinction Rebellion banner to "highlight government inaction on the climate and ecological emergency". | |
The man, named by the group as tree surgeon Ben Atkinson, 43, was on the scaffolding for nearly three hours, before police brought him down safely using a lift at about 19:00 BST. | |
Mr Atkinson had been willing to stay up there until his demand to speak to the prime minister was met, according to a fellow activist. | |
Outside the gates of Downing Street, protesters sang and held up their hands - which many had painted red to symbolise blood. | Outside the gates of Downing Street, protesters sang and held up their hands - which many had painted red to symbolise blood. |
"We will raise our red hands, taking responsibility for our actions - we all have blood on our hands," a post on Extinction Rebellion's website reads. | "We will raise our red hands, taking responsibility for our actions - we all have blood on our hands," a post on Extinction Rebellion's website reads. |
Alan Partridge actor Steve Coogan joined the protest. | Alan Partridge actor Steve Coogan joined the protest. |
Earlier police used a cherry picker to clear protesters perched on a wooden structure built to block the road at Oxford Circus. | Earlier police used a cherry picker to clear protesters perched on a wooden structure built to block the road at Oxford Circus. |
Specialist teams brought in a JCB to dismantle the structure that protesters had made. | Specialist teams brought in a JCB to dismantle the structure that protesters had made. |
The Extinction Rebellion London Twitter account said the junction, which was also occupied by the group for several days in April, was targeted because Oxford Street is a centre of fast fashion and is heavily polluted. | The Extinction Rebellion London Twitter account said the junction, which was also occupied by the group for several days in April, was targeted because Oxford Street is a centre of fast fashion and is heavily polluted. |
It also said the central London street was a "hub of luxury goods for the wealthiest", citing an Oxfam report from 2015 that claimed the richest 10% of people are responsible for half of all carbon emissions. | It also said the central London street was a "hub of luxury goods for the wealthiest", citing an Oxfam report from 2015 that claimed the richest 10% of people are responsible for half of all carbon emissions. |
The protests come despite a ban on two or more people linked to Extinction Rebellion assembling in London, announced by police on Monday. | The protests come despite a ban on two or more people linked to Extinction Rebellion assembling in London, announced by police on Monday. |
The stretch of protests, dubbed the Autumn Uprising, are due to end on Saturday. | The stretch of protests, dubbed the Autumn Uprising, are due to end on Saturday. |
Five protesters were charged after rush hour demonstrations at three Tube stations on Thursday. | Five protesters were charged after rush hour demonstrations at three Tube stations on Thursday. |
A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion said: "It's not about causing meaningless disruption. We have a vital message to bring - the consequences of the climate and ecological crisis are horrific." | A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion said: "It's not about causing meaningless disruption. We have a vital message to bring - the consequences of the climate and ecological crisis are horrific." |
Extinction Rebellion challenged the public order ban but a High Court judge ruled that a judicial review into the police's move could not be heard until next week. | Extinction Rebellion challenged the public order ban but a High Court judge ruled that a judicial review into the police's move could not be heard until next week. |
The group wanted a hearing before the scheduled end of the protests on 19 October. | The group wanted a hearing before the scheduled end of the protests on 19 October. |