Extinction Rebellion protests – live: Activist dressed as Boris Johnson scales Big Ben scaffolding as protesters spray paint government buildings
Arrests soar to more than 1,700 as protesters blockade Oxford Circus
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Your support makes all the difference.An Extinction Rebellion protester dressed as Boris Johnson has climbed Big Ben on the penultimate day of the group's latest round of protests to demand urgent action on the climate crisis
It comes after activists blockaded Oxford Circus by scaling bamboo tripods and marched through Westminster, leaving red hand marks on government buildings with chalk spray paint.
The group continue to defy a London-wide ban on its protests amid anger over its disruption of the London Underground yesterday, which saw activists fiercely attacked by commuters.
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'I look at my grandchildren and I think, how can I not do this?'
Some protesters are staging a sit in by the front of Downing Street.
Asked about why the activists were protesting despite the police ban, Phyllis Wolff from Dorset said it would be a bigger risk if they did not act. “It's a bigger risk for us not to do this,” she told the PA news agency.
“I look at my grandchildren and I think, how can I not do this?”
Steve Coogan: 'Anyone who is against the movement is motivated purely by the bottom line'
Actor Steve Coogan is among the protesters taking part in the "red-handed" march.
He told PA that Extinction Rebellion was "an important movement".
"Some people try to characterise it as a fringe movement, but it's not. I like the fact that it was started by young people, but now older people have joined in too," he said.
(Extinction Rebellion)
"Climate change feels like just another issue on the agenda that people are reluctant to pay attention to. But people in Extinction Rebellion and people who seriously believe want to make it a bigger issue.
"Anyone who is against the movement is motivated purely by the bottom line.
"I have always been environmentally aware and environmentally conscious. I just do not want to stand on the sidelines and not participate. It's easy to sit and not do anything."
Police guard protesters outside the Treasury
Police are pictured watching over the Red Rebel Brigade outside the Treasury in Westminster.
PA
(PA)
Arrests rise to nearly 1,800
Nearly 1,800 Extinction Rebellion protesters have been arrested as of 2pm today, police said.
Protesters to gather in Trafalgar Square
Extinction Rebellion have now asked protesters to gather in Trafalgar Square. A large number of police are reportedly already gathered at the site.
Police clear protesters chained to Kenyan embassy
Police have reportedly begun to remove protesters chained to the Kenya High Commission in London.
Protester dressed as Boris Johnson spotted climbing up Big Ben
A protester dressed as Boris Johnson has been spotted climbing up the scaffolding on Big Ben. It is not known whether they are part of the Extinction Rebellion protests.
Extinction Rebellion protester dressed as Boris Johnson climbs Big Ben scaffolding
A protester who appeared to be dressed as Boris Johnson has climbed the Big Ben scaffolding near the Palace of Westminster in London.
Read more here:
Photo emerges of protester climbing Big Ben
One journalist appears to have found a photo of the Extinction Rebellion activist scaling Big Ben.
Protester drapes two signs from Big Ben
The protester has draped two signs from Big Ben.
One has the Extinction Rebellion logo and the words “No pride on a dead planet”. The other said “Citizens Assembly”.
The man has been identified as 43-year-old tree surgeon Ben Atkinson.
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