Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Extinction Rebellion protesters scale Eiffel Tower to unfurl 'rebel' banner

Police reportedly arrest protesters

Zoe Tidman
Monday 12 October 2020 10:15 BST
Comments
Extinction Rebellion activists scale Eiffel Tower

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Extinction Rebellion activists have scaled the Eiffel Tower to hang a banner reading “rebel”, kicking off a week of events aimed at shining a spotlight on global inaction on the climate crisis.

A group of climate protesters could be seen standing on top of the Paris monument’s first stage on Sunday.

They dropped a pink and black banner saying “Rebel” from the Eiffel Tower, as activists watched on from below. 

Extinction Rebellion, also known as XR, said the demonstration marked the start of the “International October Rebellion”. 

Around 20 protesters are believed to have taken part in hanging the banner from the famous monument over the weekend, including eight who have been described as “climbers”, according to French media

“The climbers have made it to the first stage of the Eiffel Tower,” one activist told radio station RFI at the scene. 

More protests are planned in France this week, according to the climate group. 

In Paris, activists are set to walk slowly around several “symbolic places in the capital”. XR said this protest aims to position people in the present,  so they can "understand the crises we are experiencing and imagine other futures.”

Arrests were made following Sunday’s protest up the Eiffel Tower, according to AFP

Images showed police ushering activists in face masks following the demonstration in the French capital. 

Last month, XR protesters glued themselves to a road outside the UK parliament to protest for more to be done to tackle the climate crisis. 

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in