Big Ben climber ‘was inspired by Greta Thunberg’
CLIMATE EMERGENCY: EXTINCTION REBELLION PROTEST IN CAPITAL DRAWS TO CLOSE
AN EXTINCTION Rebellion protester scaled the scaffolding surrounding Big Ben, saying he was inspired by Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg.
Footage of the stunt circulated on social media showed 43-yearold tree surgeon Ben Atkinson – who was later arrested – climbing the landmark dressed as Boris Johnson, complete with a blond wig, shirt, tie and jacket.
When he reached the top, he draped two banners from the structure.
One featured the Extinction Rebellion logo on a rainbow background and the words “No pride on a dead planet”, and the other said “Citizens Assembly”.
After reaching the top, Mr Atkinson posted on Facebook: “Gone and done it... Extinction Rebellion. Here to stay.”
He said he had been inspired by Thunberg, adding: “I heard you calling.” Shortly before climbing the building, Mr Atkinson posted a photo of himself with a blond wig, swimming goggles, blazer and tie, adding: “Ready steady breathe deep... go.”
Onlookers said police officers had used a lift that is part of the scaffolding to reach Mr Atkinson.
By 4.50pm, Mr Atkinson was still on the scaffolding, but had unhooked himself from his ropes to evade police climbers.
He had managed to climb to the north east side of the tower and was seen seated on a girder that runs its width.
Police officers could be seen at the core of the scaffolding level with Mr Atkinson.
Police had closed the entrance to Westminster Tube station that Dame Vivienne Westwood at a protest outside BP’s head office; Ben Atkinson scales scaffolding on Big Ben. is across the road from Big Ben, and were asking people to leave the area directly in front of where the demonstrator was.
Other entrances to the Tube station remained open.
A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion said Mr Atkinson’s climb was to highlight Government inaction on the climate and ecological emergency.
It is the latest in a string of
stunts staged by Extinction Rebellion on the last day of their autumn uprising – despite being barred from protesting in the capital since Monday by the Met Police.
Earlier, the group performed a “red handed” march, where they sprayed hand prints using chalk-based spray paint around Whitehall.
On Thursday, the group was forced to apologise after
holding up Jubilee Line trains by climbing on them.
One protester was filmed lashing out at an angry commuter who had pulled him off the roof of a train.
Extinction Rebellion said it would be ending the protest later today, a day earlier than originally planned.
It apologised again for the incidents on the Tube, adding: “We know we do things that
cause disruption to everyday people’s lives – to make concrete the existential threat we all face – and they are rightly angry when we do this.”
Later Extinction Rebellion activists, joined by celebrities including Steve Coogan, led a protest to Downing Street and blocked roads.
By 2pm yesterday, 1,768 arrests had been made since the start of the campaign.