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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Emma Snaith

Extinction Rebellion protests – live: Activist dressed as Boris Johnson scales Big Ben scaffolding as protesters spray paint government buildings

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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Hello and welcome to The Independent's rolling coverage of Extinction Rebellion's protests.
Protesters blockade Oxford Circus 
 
Extinction Rebellion protesters have blocked roads around Oxford Circus after putting up tripods on the road. 
 
During its April protests, the group shut down the site for several days after parking a pink boat in the middle of a roundabout. 
Extinction Rebellion targets fast fashion on Oxford Street 
 
Extinction Rebellion appears to be targeting the fashion industry in its latest protest. 
 
In a post on Twitter, the group wrote: "Fashion is responsible for more emissions than shippings & aviation combined. 1.5 trillion litres of water go into making clothes."
 
Arrests soar to more than 1,700
 
More than 1,700 Extinction Rebellion activists have been arrested since the protests began last Monday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed last night. 
 
 
Police out in force at Oxford Circus
 
A large number of police officers have been pictured on the scene at Extinction Rebellion's latest protests in Oxford Circus. 
Protesters to spray paint government buildings in Westminster
 
Extinction Rebellion is planning a “red handed” protest later today that will see activists spray-paint hand prints around Westminster.

The group says it will use washable chalk spray to mark the path of its march from Whitehall Gardens to six government departments.
 
Read more here: 
 
Activists hang in tripod in the middle of Oxford Circus
 
Two protesters are pictured sitting on a tripod in the middle of Oxford Circus. According to some reports, the action was nearly called off in response to criticism over the group's Tube protests yesterday which ended in violence. 
 
(Sam Povey)
 
Arrests reportedly being made at Oxford Circus
 
Police are reportedly beginning to arrest activists blocking the road in Oxford Circus.  
Five people charged after tube protests 
 
Five people have been charged over Extinction Rebellion's protests on London's Tube network yesterday morning. 
 
Two men and two women have been charged with obstructing a train at Shadwell, British Transport Police said. One man has been charged with breaching bail conditions over the Canning Town protest.
 
All five are due before magistrates at Highbury Corner for plea and bail hearings later today. 
 
Cherry picker arrives in Oxford Circus to clear protesters
 
A Cherry picker has reportedly arrived in Oxford Circus to clear the protesters who have climbed on to tripods.
 
Meanwhile, other activists who have locked on at the site are being removed. 
 
Roads remain closed around Oxford Circus
 
TFL has confirmed that the roads around Oxford Circus remain closed as Extinction Rebellion protesters occupy the site. 
 
Vivienne Wetwood join protests outside BP HQ
 
Vivienne Westwood has joined members of Free West Papua and Extinction Rebellion activists protesting outside the London head office of BP, where they were delivering a report on the company's activities in West Papua.
'It's not about causing meaningless disruption' 
 
An Extinction Rebellion spokesman said of the Oxford Circus protest: “The end of the Rebellion approaches, and Oxford Circus has once again been occupied by Extinction Rebellion, to be used as a space of community and democratic resistance.

“We are coming together to tell the truth, and to bring attention to why we are protesting. It's not about causing meaningless disruption; we have a vital message to bring - the consequences of the climate and ecological crisis are horrific.
Last person locked on to tripod at Oxford Circus removed
 
All the people locked on to the tripods at Oxford Circus have now been removed by police, Extinction Rebellion said. 
Extinction Rebellion backs another global climate strike in November 
 
Extinction Rebellion has announced it is backing another global climate strike in November. 
Footage emerges of protesters assembling tripods in middle of road
 
Protesters managed to assemble tripods and block the roads during a traffic light change, footage reveals. 
 
Hundreds gather for 'red-handed' protest
 
Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters are gathered in Whitehall Gardens ahead of its 'red-handed' protest through Westminster this afternoon.
 
Protesters plan to spray paint government buildings. 
Extinction Rebellion shares letters sent to politicians
 
Extinction Rebellion has shared letters it has sent to a number of politicians to demand urgent action on the climate crisis including the home secretary Priti Patel, the chancellor Sajid Javid and the trade secretary Liz Truss. They claim the Treasury are only spending a trillionth of UK GDP on reaching its 2050 carbon neutral target. 
 
Who are Extinction Rebellion?
 
As Extinction Rebellion protests continue into a second week, it's fair to say that the groups disruptive tactics have split public opinion. 
 
So who are Extinction Rebellion's supporters and what are they hoping to achieve.
 

Who are Extinction Rebellion and why are they bringing cities to a standstill?

The IndependentAction to block bridges and roads around the world expected to be five bigger than previous round of protests
Protesters rally outside Kenyan embassy 
 
Elsewhere, protesters are rallying outside the Kenya High Commission to protests against the persecution of the Sengwar people 
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