Police arrest two XR activists in central Rotterdam

Police arrested two activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) in central Rotterdam on Thursday evening, after a protest disrupted an event in the Laurenskerk. Police said one of them set off fireworks inside the church.

The Laurenskerk was hosting a gala dinner of the European Commodities Exchange (ECE), an international partnership. XR says the companies taking part represent the livestock industry.

Police said they arrested the second activist because that person could not show proof of identity.

The group carried banners reading "feed to live, not to kill" and images of chickens and pigs packed closely together in small spaces. Several activists wore animal masks. Some demonstrators went into the church, and police officers escorted them out. Afterwards all the activists were outside again.

In a letter explaining the protest, XR says the companies attending are guilty of human rights violations and environmental pollution. It also says the animal feed industry makes money from the suffering and exploitation of billions of animals a year. "Companies involved in child labour, human rights abuses and deforestation have no place in our city," the group wrote.