Extinction Rebellion protests target Government in Westminster
Extinction Rebellion protesters are vowing to shut down Westminster as they demand urgent action on the climate and environmental crises.
Activists say they expect the protests to be as much as five times bigger than ones held in April, which brought major disruption to London and saw more than 1,100 arrests.
The protests are targeting the heart of Government, as part of an "international rebellion" around the world, with plans to shut the streets into Westminster including Trafalgar Square and Lambeth Bridge.
Protests will also be held outside Government departments, calling on them to outline what their plans are to tackle the climate emergency, along with processions, marches and a sit-in at City Airport.
As protests got under way in the capital, police were seen cutting two Extinction Rebellion protesters out of a car blocking off Victoria Embankment.
More than 1,000 people attended an "opening ceremony" at Marble Arch on Sunday evening, featuring meditation and dancing as "inspiration" prior to the protests.
Police are cutting two Extinction Rebellion protesters out of a car blocking off Victoria Embankment in #Westminster.
They're locked to a piece of concrete that's lodged in the vehicle.
The group's planning to take over 12 sites around Parliament for the next two weeks. pic.twitter.com/QanqTm4eNc— Helen Hoddinott (@helenhoddinott) October 7, 2019
Groups of artists held a procession around Marble Arch as the protesters were told to "surround" the upcoming demonstrations with love.
On Saturday, the Metropolitan Police arrested seven women and three men on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
The arrests came after officers broke their way into the former Lambeth County Court building which the protesters had used to store supplies for a fortnight of protest.
Members of Extinction Rebellion said police confiscated six vehicles as well as gazebos, portable toilets and bean bags – and have since claimed that the arrests were pre-emptive.
A protest last week saw activists spray fake blood from an old fire engine on the Treasury in protest at funding for fossil fuels.
Extinction Rebellion is calling on the Government to declare a climate and ecological emergency, to act immediately to halt wildlife loss and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
They want to see the Government create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens' Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
