Greenpeace scales Nelson's Column over London air pollution levels
LONDON -- Activists from environmental group Greenpeace climbed several London monuments Monday morning in a protest against what they say are dangerous levels of air pollution.
Four people were arrested after they scaled Nelson's Column, a 52-meter monument in Trafalgar Square.
Other protesters placed surgical masks over famous London statues, including the Oliver Cromwell statue outside the houses of parliament, Sherlock Holmes in Baker Street and Eros in Piccadilly Circus.
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The group says it plans to target 17 statues in the capital on Monday.
Responding to the action, Met Police said: "Two people are up there [Nelson's Column]. At 6:25 a.m. we got the call, officers are in attendance. Two other people have been arrested in connection with the incident."
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Greenpeace's current #CleanAirNow campaign calls on the British government to develop a clean air action plan: "Air pollution in the UK is responsible for cutting short 40,000 lives every year. It’s now a public health crisis, where children, the elderly and the most vulnerable people in our society are most affected by dangerous and toxic air."
Greenpeace previously climbed the column in 1998 to protest against logging activity in British Columbia.
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