Climate activists disrupt Queen's military parade; 12 arrested

UK: Climate change protesters caused a disturbance at a military parade in London at the start of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee on Thursday, running out in front of marching soldiers before they were arrested.

The activists ran out from behind barriers where tens of thousands of people had gathered on The Mall, the grand boulevard that leads to Buckingham Palace, and lay down in front of a marching band, television footage showed. One of the people appeared to hold up a banner, before police dragged the protesters away. One of the protesters wore a gold crown on his head.

“Today we have made 12 arrests for obstruction of the highway. This follows an incident this morning where people attempted to enter the ceremonial route on The Mall,” police said on Twitter. The Trooping the Colour military parade, which takes place annually to celebrate the queen’s official birthday, involves some 1,500 soldiers and officers. This year the parade kicked off four days of pageantry and parties to mark the queen’s 70 years on the throne.

– THE HINDUSTAN TIMES