Extinction Rebellion hangs protest wreath on Cenotaph

Extinction Rebellion activists placed a protest wreath declaring climate change a “war” on the Cenotaph, hours before the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended the Westminster Abbey service for Remembrance Day.

The environmental campaign group hung a banner that read “Honour their sacrifice, climate change means war” and a wreath of poppies bearing a slogan on the memorial this morning.

After the banner had been placed, Donald Bell, a British Army veteran and member of Extinction Rebellion, observed two minutes’ silence before hanging the wreath. Police officers later removed it before the service.

Wreaths lie around the Cenotaph on Whitehall

ANDY RAIN/EPA

Mr Bell, 64, who was injured in a car bomb in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, said he wanted to warn the public about the global climate crisis