Eight people have been arrested for a string of Greenpeace demonstrations across London in the hours early of Monday (April 18).
Two protesters scaled Nelson’s Column in Trafalagar Square and placed a gas mask over the statue’s face while others targeted other historic landmarks.
The environmentalists, who are demanding action on air pollution, also targeted the Cromwell Statue in Parliament Square, the Duke of Wellington Memorial in Hyde Park Corner, Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, Queen Victoria opposite Buckingham Palace and Eros at Piccadilly Circus.
Police say they were called at 4.10am to a group of six protesters trying to climb the 52-metre tall Nelson’s Column. At around 9am the protesters came down and two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
At 6.25am two protesters scaled the Cromwell Statue in Parliament Square. They came down over 30 minutes later and were arrested. Two other people were arrested at the scene in connection with this incident. All four were arrested for breaching existing bylaws under section 128 of SOCPA.
At 8.15pm two more people were arrested after scaling the Duke of Wellington Memorial in Hyde Park Corner. Both were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
Last year Hammersmith Council set up an Air Quality Commission to tackle the menace of air pollution, which it claimed kills more than 200 people in the borough each year.
Greenpeace say in total 17 figures would be seen wearing a gas mask, including Thierry Henry outside Emirates Stadium and some of London’s most famous statues.
Greenpeace campaigner Areeba Hamid said: “Monitoring shows that if these statutes were real people, many of them would often be breathing dangerous, illegal air.
“That’s why we’ve given them face masks. Of course many millions of Londoners, including kids, are breathing that same air. Kitting everyone out with face masks is not the solution, instead we need to see real political action from the new Mayor.
“We need a Clean Air Zone covering a large part of the city. Whoever wins the election has to stop the talk and start the action.”
On April 16 Londoners took to the streets as part of an anti-austerity march in the capital.
Westminster City Council said it was working to remove the masks from sites within tis borough, but that Trafalgar and Parliament Squares which are the responsibility of the Greater London Authority.
It also revealed plans for a new Low Emission Neighbourhood in Marylebone "as part of our commitment to tackling poor air quality and delivering a greener city".
Cllr Heather Acton, head of parking and sustainability said: "Measures include a new ‘air force’ of parking marshals to combat engine idling and raise awareness, incentives for switching to an electric vehicle and the creation of new green space.
“Our bid for a Low Emission Neighbourhood in Marylebone is a snapshot of our work to create a greener city and Westminster will continue to play a leading role in the struggle against poor air quality in London.”
If successful Westminster will be one of two boroughs to receive £1 million of funding from the Greater London Authority and Transport for London.
