British police said they had arrested nine women from the environmental group Extinction Rebellion who smashed the windows of HSBC bank headquarters in London's Canary Wharf business district on Thursday morning.
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Nine women (...) were arrested, suspected of having caused damage,
" said the police, called on the spot around 7:10 am local, in a statement.
Read also: Black Friday: two Extinction Rebellion activists in custody in Amiens after an action against Amazon
These nine women smash HSBC windows with hammers and chisels on Earth Day, according to Extinction Rebellion, to protest against UK bank funding for climate change activities .
They then sat down to await the arrival of the police.
Coal financing
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Despite HSBC's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2050, its current climate plan still allows the bank to finance energy extracted from coal and provides no framework for refusing customers or canceling contracts with links with the fossil fuel industry
, ”the movement said in a statement.
Read also: Under pressure from shareholders, HSBC wants to stop financing coal
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A serious dialogue on our climate strategy is welcome, but we cannot condone vandalism or actions putting people and property in danger,
" responded a spokesperson for HSBC. Among the protesters was Valerie Brown, of the Burning Pink party, a candidate for mayor of London in the May 6 local poll, calling for a citizens' revolution to fight climate change.