1,600 climate activists arrested

The number of climate change protesters arrested in London increased to more than 1,600 on Wednesday as the Extinction Rebellion group continued its civil disobedience campaign despite a city-wide ban on its demonstrations.

Lawyers for Extinction Rebellion submitted an application for a judicial review to the High Court for an urgent hearing later in the day to challenge the blanket ban on the group's protests across the British capital. The public order issued on Monday effectively bans more than two climate activists convening anywhere in the city.

The climate activist group on Tuesday defied the police by demonstrating throughout London. In response to Extinction Rebellion's protests, the government said it was already committed to achieving net-zero emissions and urged activists not to "disrupt people's day-to-day lives".