Greenpeace activists have scaled Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, central London and attached a gas mask to the Admiral Horatio Nelson statue in protest at the “dangerous” levels of air pollution in the city. Seventeen other London statues were also targeted as part of the city-wide protest.
Two climbers, identified as Alison Garrigan, 29, and Luke Jones, 30, had evaded security and begun climbing the 52-meter (170ft) landmark at 04:00 GMT on Monday. The pair then safely abseiled down the colume at 09:00 GMT, leaving a white, nautical themed mask on the Lord Nelson statue.
WATCH: @GreenpeaceUK campaigners abseil down Nelson’s Column after #airpollution stunt. #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/bG74UVGaQz
— Capital London News (@CapitalLONnews) 18 April 2016
A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said: “Police in Westminster were called to Trafalgar Square at 04:11 hours on Monday 18 April after a group of six protesters were seen trying climb Nelson’s column with a banner. At around 09:00 the protesters came down from the column – two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.”
The environmental group also breached security at the Houses of Parliament and attached a mask to the Oliver Cromwell statue that stands within the grounds. A parliamentary spokeswoman has since confirmed that activists had breached a fence at the House of Commons.
“There was a minor security incident on the parliamentary estate that is being dealt with by the Metropolitan police. Parliament is working closely with the police on their investigation and we cannot comment further while this is ongoing,” she said.
It’s not just Nelson’s column we’ve climbed. Here’s Oliver Cromwell! Demand #CleanAirNow https://t.co/zKLja8UziK pic.twitter.com/qvU21q8cQw
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) 18 April 2016
The two activists, sporting hard hats and climbing gear, were apprehended at the scene with two others for breaching existing bylaws under the police reform and social responsibility act 2011.
“At approximately 06:25 two protesters scaled the Cromwell statue in Parliament Square. Shortly after 07:00 both voluntarily came down and were arrested. Two other people were arrested at the scene in connection with incident,” said a spokeswoman for Scotland Yard.
Other statues targeted by the group include:
- The Sherlock Holmes statue, near the site of the fictional detective’s home at 221b Baker Street
- The Winston Churchill statue outside the Houses of Parliament
- The statue of footballer Thierry Henry at the Emirates Stadium
- The Queen Victoria statue opposite Buckingham Palace
- Eros in Piccadilly Circus
- The statue of Dr Salter’s daughter in Bermondsey
- The Boudica statue on Westminster Bridge
- The Turning Point statue in Putney
- The Achilles statue in Hyde Park
- Frank Dobson’s London Pride statue on the Southbank
- The Young Dancer statue in Covent Garden
- The statue of Sir Isaac Newton outside the British Library
- A statue of a window cleaner outside Edgware Road Tube station
Winston Churchill is wearing an air pollution mask. Demand #CleanAirNow Sign the petition >> https://t.co/zKLja8UziK pic.twitter.com/cg7FrbZZjg
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) 18 April 2016
The aim of the city-wide protest was to highlight the need for urgent legislation to tackle air pollution. In the UK, outdoor air pollution contributes to as many as 40,000 early deaths a year, according to a report published in February by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Meanwhile, Greenpeace figure indicate that outdoor air pollution contributes to around 10,000 premature deaths in London alone.
“Monitoring shows that if these statutes were real people, many of them would often be breathing dangerous, illegal 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,” said Greenpeace campaigner Areeba Hamid.
In response to this pressing issue the organization is urging the government to focus on greener public transport, push electric vehicles and create clean air zones around schools and hospitals. The organization also hopes that their protest efforts will put pressure on the candidate who wins May’s London mayoral election to take action.
“At schools across London children are being forced to breathe illegal, dangerous air. Londoners need greener and affordable public transport, along with air pollution alerts and an efficient and adequate system to measure air quality. The next mayor should begin a consultation on a clean air zone immediately after the election,” Hamid added.
In 2005, legally-binding limits on air pollution levels were introduced by the UK and EU; however, at least one or more of these air pollution limits have been breached in London every year since their introduction, according to Greenpeace.
#CleanAirNow is trending nationally! Here’s why! >> https://t.co/zKLja8UziK pic.twitter.com/Y3zOSI13bw
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) 18 April 2016
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