Arrests over bank demo

SEVEN people have been charged with aggravated trespass after a climate protest at a Cardiff city centre bank.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists were chained to the interior of Barclays in St David’s Way from around noon until 3.30pm on Monday during a demonstration against its funding of fossil fuels.

South Wales Police has released four men and three women on bail to appear at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on December 16. They are: Pamela Williams, 74, from Llanidloes, Powys; Sarah Wilding, 55, from Knighton, Powys; Christine Welch, 69, from Broseley, Shropshire; Mark Stokes, 62, from Oswestry, Shropshire; Jamie Russell, 48, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire; Dougall Purce, 59, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire; and Michael Bastow, 54, from Oswestry, Shropshire.

The suspects were taken by van to Cardiff Bay police station at around 3.30pm on Monday. They were held in custody until 2pm the following day, said an XR spokeswoman.

The Guardian reports that Barclays put more than £15bn into the fossil fuel industry in 2021. The Cardiff demonstration was part of a national day of action.

A Barclays spokesman said: “We are determined to play our part in addressing the urgent and complex challenge of climate change.”