Climate activists occupy Paris mall as global Extinction Rebellion protests begin
Hundreds of climate activists barricaded themselves into a Paris shopping centre as security forces tried to remove them, ahead of a planned series of protests around the world by the Extinction Rebellion movement.
Campaigners faced off against police and some inconvenienced shoppers as they occupied part of the Italie 2 mall in southeast Paris on Saturday.
They unfurled banners with slogans like "Burn capitalism not petrol" above restaurants and the window displays fashion boutiques.
The protest comes ahead of planned disruption to 60 cities around the world from Monday in a fortnight of civil disobedience, from Extinction Rebellion (XR), which is warning of an environmental "apocalypse".
As the centre tried to close up in the evening, security forces ordered the protesters to leave the area, activists said.
According to images broadcast on social networks, police then tried to enter the building, while protesters blocked entrances with tables and chairs.
"I am with XR to say stop ...