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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Neil Pooran

Extinction Rebellion protests: 13 arrested after roadblocks as two glue themselves to Holyrood car park

A total of 13 protesters were arrested at roadblock demonstrations during rush hour in central Edinburgh on Monday evening.

The Extinction Rebellion group are continuing their week of climate change action on Tuesday, as two members have glued themselves to the entrance of the Scottish Parliament car park.

The demonstration at Holyrood aimed to "make politicians enter their workplace by foot and have to speak to protesters at the entrance."

Police have surrounded the two men who are glued to the street.

On Monday evening, traffic in parts of the city centre was at a standstill for hours as activists aimed to shut down three key junctions.

Police prevented some of the disruption, but six activists chained themselves together and lay down on Lothian Road.

A total of 13 were arrested, 11 of which were either chained down or glued to Lothian Road.

The six men from the Lothian Road blockade were aged 46, 57, 53, 19, 68 and 25. Two men aged 32 and 49 and five women aged 61, 18, 41, 57 and 37, were also arrested following other "disruption activity" in the capital.

Extinction Rebellion have set up a camp outside the Scottish Parliament and are demanding tougher measures in the forthcoming Climate Bill.

Chief Superintendent Matt Richards from Police Scotland said: "First and foremost I want to thank the communities of Edinburgh for their patience and co-operation while we dealt with the events that took place within the city centre on Monday afternoon and into the evening.

"Our number one priority is, and always will be, public safety and we took all the necessary steps to remove demonstrators without risking injury to them, our officers or others in the area.

"While we fully support the right to peaceful demonstration, any action which puts members of the public at risk of injury, or has an impact on the city's infrastructure, is unacceptable.

"We have outlined our stance to the protesters and remain in dialogue with them, while at the same time we continue to plan for any further activity that may occur over the coming days."

You can read our liveblog of the Extinction Rebellion protests in Edinburgh here.

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