Extinction Rebellion protests: Arrests soar to 1,000 as blind paralympian clambers on top of British Airways plane

Climate activists glue themselves to arrival lounge in 'Hong Kong-style' occupation of London City airport

Extinction Rebellion protests: Man climbs on to British Airways plane before take-off as climate activists occupy airport

Extinction Rebellion began a three-day “Hong Kong-style” occupation of London City Airport today as the number of protesters arrested soared to 1,000.

A blind paralympian climbed on top of a British Airways plane after another boarded another plane and stopped it taking off. Meanwhile, dozens of climate activists glued themselves onto the front of the departure and arrival gates at the airport.

The airport occupation is part of Extinction Rebellion's two-week protest to demand greater government action on the climate crisis. The group says extreme weather caused by climate change would lead to crop losses, food crises, social unrest and damage to infrastructure, and people were risking arrest to show "how vulnerable we are".

But Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said said the protesters were "utterly irresponsible and completely unreasonable" for their determination to take over and occupy important arterial roads in London for a two-week period She urged them to demonstrate in the pedestrian area of Trafalgar Square, saying: "Protest lawfully or go home."

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Key Points

• Arrests soar to 1,000
• Paralympian filmed clambering on top of British Airways plane 
• Video shows protester 'grounding' flight by refusing to leave plane
• 'You’re hurting me!': Woman dragged out of London City Airport by police
• Boris Johnson's father backs 'peaceful' Extinction Rebellion protests

[10 October 2019 19:59 · emma.snaith]

Bennedict Cumberbatch and Nish Kumar announce support of Extinction Rebellion

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch and comedian Nish Kumar are among the celebrities that have announced their support of the Extinction Rebellion protests.

Nish Kumar said: "Every stage of human progress has been achieved by some act of peaceful action. This is the cause & the time."

And last night Benedict Cumberbatch visited the Extinction Rebellion site at Trafalgar Square 

[10 October 2019 20:04 · emma.snaith]

Goodnight and thanks for following our live coverage of the Extinction Rebellion protests today.