Bank of England targeted by Extinction Rebellion activists
Climate activist group Extinction Rebellion has this morning targeted the Bank of England, spraying the building with fake oil.
The demonstrators were protesting investments in fossil fuels, accusing the Bank of “funding destruction in a climate crisis”.
Activists, some dressed as jesters, sprayed the dye at the building, known as “the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street”, leaving black stains on the main entrance to the building.
Photos posted to social media showed that fake oil had been sprayed on the Bank of England while demonstrators held up signs reading “no more fossil fuels”.
Extinction Rebellion says the Bank of England has failed to be strict enough with commercial banks to stop them funding climate change and wants it to be much tougher with the financial sector.
Canada Police said they were aware of the protest in Threadneedle Street and have made five arrests in total.
One arrest was made on suspicion of criminal trespass, another for going equipped to commit criminal damage, while the others were for suspected criminal damage.
The protesters have now dispersed, the police said.
Other Extinction Rebellion groups across the UK are targeting private banks today, including in Glasgow, Brighton, Cambridge and Cornwall,
Protests are also being held in cities including Paris, Brussels and Melbourne, Extinction Rebellion said.
Similar protests were seen outside the French central bank in Paris, where activists had sprayed the building with ink and raised signs denouncing investment in fossil fuels.