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Climate activists smash HSBC windows over its links to fossil fuel industry

CLIMATE change activists smashed the windows of HSBC’s London headquarters today over its links to the fossil fuel industry.

Women from Extinction Rebellion (XR) and the political party Burning Pink targeted the Canary Wharf building using hammers and chisels to break the glass.

They placed stickers on the windows reading: “£80 billion into fossil fuels in the last five years” and waited for police to arrive to arrest them.

The Metropolitan Police said that officers were called to Canada Square shortly after 7am to reports of protesters causing criminal damage to a building.

The force said that nine women have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and remained in police custody this afternoon.

XR said that their latest demonstration aimed to highlight the financial sector’s role in the climate and ecological crisis.

Despite HSBC’s pledge to shrink its carbon footprint to net-zero by 2050, the group said that its existing climate plan allows it to finance coal power.

The action followed similar acts of civil disobedience at Barclays branches and the bank’s headquarters last week.

Burning Pink London mayoral candidate Valerie Brown, 68, was among the women who broke windows today.

Addressing HSBC management directly she said: “Investing in fossil fuels is murder. More and more people can see that clearly. Why can’t you?

“We will not stand by while you invest in runaway greed, while people’s lives are being shattered by the fossil fuel industries.”

A spokesperson for HSBC said that the firm welcomes meaningful dialogue on its climate strategy, but it cannot condone vandalism or actions that put people and property at risk.

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