COP26 Glasgow: Five arrested during Extinction Rebellion protests that saw cops ‘attacked with spray paint’
FIVE people have been arrested as eco-warriors marched through Glasgow city centre this afternoon.
Hundreds of climate activists marched in the city which shut down roads and saw cops allegedly attacked with spray paint.
Extinction Rebellion campaigners were marshalled by cops as they blocked off streets in the city centre during their “Greenwash” parade this afternoon.
They were escorted towards the COP26 venue at the Hydro to a 'static protest' at the Squinty Bridge.
Hundreds of eco warriors gathered at the steps at the top of Buchanan Street before marching through the city centre.
Activists staged sit-in protests and brought traffic to a halt, sparking clashes between demonstrators and cops.
And Police Scotland confirmed that five people had been nicked after the protests and alleged paint can assaults.
A senior cop said officers will continue to “protect the rights” of protesters - but warned that “violence will not be tolerated”.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: "Police Scotland is facilitating a number of protests across Glasgow city centre this afternoon."
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The top cop also confirmed two of the arrests were after officers were allegedly sprayed with paint.
He added: "During one of these protests, a number of officers were assaulted after being sprayed with paint. Two arrests have been made in relation to this so far and cans of spray paint have been seized.
"Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation that puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do.
"This means that we will protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest at COP26, balanced against the rights of the wider community. We will provide a proportionate policing response to any protest and violence will not be tolerated.
“Assaults on officers, who put their safety at risk every day to keep the public safe and have adopted a facilitative and rights-based approach to protest, is totally unacceptable.
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“The protests have caused some delay with travel through the city centre and officers remain on scene."
We told before COP26 started how Extinction Rebellion revealed plans for “targeted disruption” in Glasgow.
Environmental activists were out in force yesterday as campaigners rallied outside the city’s JP Morgan bank.
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