Extinction Rebellion stages air pollution protests in London and Manchester

Demonstrators target key roads to demand government action to tackle deadly issue

Climate change activists wearing gas masks have blocked a central London road to demand the next government tackles “deadly levels of air pollution” in the capital.

Six Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed in hi-vis suits glued their hands to yellow breeze-blocks in the middle of Cranbourn Street, outside Leicester Square tube station.

The demonstration, called The Air We Grieve, involved 25 cement blocks the activists said represented the number of Londoners who die each day as a result of air pollution.

A van parked sideways next to them was emblazoned with a sign reading: “Air Pollution Kills 25 Londoners Each Day”.

Police later arrived in the street, which protesters said has dangerously high levels of air pollution.

One protester, Rosamund Frost, a teacher, said: “We are here demanding action on illegal levels of toxic air in our communities, our schools and our streets. In February 2017, the European commission issued a final warning to the UK over illegal levels of air pollution.

“In May that year, after the government failed to take decisive action they were taken to Europe’s highest court, the European court of justice.

“The government have neglected to tackle fatal levels of air pollution. How can we put our trust in them to address the broader climate and ecological emergency?”

Meanwhile, other Extinction Rebellion protesters were entering their fourth week on hunger strike outside political party headquarters in Westminster.

The strikers, including the 76-year-old Peter Cole, have sent a letter to Boris Johnson, the prime minister, inviting him to discuss the climate and ecological emergency with them on Monday.

Extinction Rebellion activists also targeted a major road in the centre of Manchester. Great Ancoats Street, a major route for commuters, has been blockaded since 8.30am with a wooden construction and banners that read “152 Roads in Manchester have Illegal Levels of Air Pollution”.

Caroline Glassberg-Powell, an environmental scientist and Extinction Rebellion activist, said: “We’re here protesting because the council has decided to build a car park instead of a green space here. I grew up in London, where we have a park at every street corner. Manchester city centre is one of the most devoid of green space places in the UK. It’s atrocious.”

Steven Fernley, who quit working at a call centre to spend more time with Extinction Rebellion, said: “The police have been very cooperative. So far, no one has been arrested. It seemed that they were just here for a chat.

“I’m not planning on being arrested, but I’m prepared in case they decide to do a mass arrest.”

Some commuters were angry at the disruption caused. Garcia Fernandez, a mother on the school run with her son, said: “I’m so angry, they’re causing bloody turmoil. They can’t achieve anything like this, they should go protest outside Westminster, not disrupting the lives of working-class people.”

Greater Manchester police said that five people had been arrested and the road was now open.