Extinction Rebellion protests

Environmentalists from the Extinction Rebellion movement staged protests outside 100 Barclays bank branches across the UK on Monday.

According to the movement's official website, the protests are against the financial institution's investment in the oil and gas industry.

One activist blackened Barclays on Chancery Lane in the City of London with black paint at one of the 45 branches attacked across the capital. Other activists in Birmingham smeared the words "Europe's largest fossil fuel sponsor" on the façade of a Barclays branch on the city's high street.

XR groups simultaneously struck in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to protest against Barclay's funding of the fossil fuel industries. Eco-protesters said the bank was facing the "biggest day" of climate protests as hundreds of people took action at more than 100 Barclays branches.

Meanwhile, windows at its new offices in Glasgow were smashed around 8am, while other branches were targeted in Newcastle and Plymouth. The protest group says the demonstration is part of a UK-wide campaign to cause serious disruption to the bank. Protests will also include die-in and street theatre performances.

Extinction Rebellion co-founder Gail Bradbrook said: "Hundreds of people staged an intervention at Barclays today, sending a message to the bank on the high street that with protests taking place at over 100 of their branches, they are fast losing their social licence to do business in UK cities and towns."

Also, Barclays Bank indicated in a published statement that it is actively funding renewable energy projects and pushing for emissions reductions in the industries in which it invests.