Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Michel Leidig, Agency: Central European News

This footage shows half-naked Extinction Rebellion activists chaining themselves to the Ministry of Economy in Paris and covering themselves in fake blood.

The move was to protest France’s and other European countries’ post-COVID-19 plans to stimulate the economy and it took place at the Ministry of Economy in Bercy, a neighbourhood in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, the French capital.

The move, which took place yesterday (Tuesday 30th June), reportedly led to police arresting and taking into custody a number of Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists. At the time of writing, it was unclear if they had been released.

The XR activists were protesting the “billions of euros invested in industries that kill planetary ecosystems and human lives.”

The activists chained themselves up and covered themselves and the walls of the Ministry in fake blood. The idea was to “lay ourselves bare to express our fragility in the face of climate change”, according to ‘Franck XR’, who shared the footage on social media.

Local media quote him as saying that a number of the activists were arrested.

One of the activists, named in local media as Etsuki, was chained to the fence and said: “We want to challenge consciences, express the vulnerability of living in the face of a deadly system, in the face of consumerist and capitalist madness which is starting up again.

She added: “Living things are bleeding, many people are suffering in the face of climate change and the disappearance of species. Let’s revive the planet rather than the polluters!”

‘Franck XR’ also said on Twitter: “This action is the first by XREurope here in Paris. Extinction Rebellion will act in the coming months across Europe to defend biodiversity and an EU policy on climate.”