Trafalgar Square: Two arrested after animal rights protesters pour red dye into fountains
The protest was organised by the campaign group Animal Rebellion.
Saturday 11 July 2020 18:44, UK
Two people have been arrested after animal rights protesters poured red dye into the Trafalgar Square fountains in central London, police said.
The pair were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after they staged a protest against animal farming on Saturday, claiming the government has "blood on their hands".
Wearing masks, they turned the fountain water red and stood in it holding placards promoting the campaign group Animal Rebellion.
Others took part in a socially distanced protest in the square with banners reading "Planet over profit".
Demonstrators claim the coronavirus pandemic was caused by animal exploitation.
Animal Rebellion has previously held protests on meat consumption inside supermarkets and outside restaurants across the UK.
Similar action took place today across 20 cities, including Bristol, Brighton and New York, the group wrote on Twitter.
Stephanie Zupan, a representative of Animal Rebellion said: "The government must now begin a transition towards a plant-based food system, or risk future zoonotic pandemics of catastrophic proportions."
A Met Police spokesman said the protesters were arrested after 3.30pm and remain in custody.
The government's Animal and Plant Health Agency told Sky News: "Every livestock farm in England, regardless of scale, must comply with our comprehensive animal welfare legislation.
"We take potential breaches of animal welfare legislation very seriously and where welfare regulations are breached, appropriate action is taken."