Extinction Rebellion activists blocked the BBC’s headquarters in central London as the group continues its two-week protest to raise awareness of the climate crisis.

Protesters carrying banners reading “planet before profit” and “this is an emergency” gathered outside Broadcasting House, with BBC staff unable to enter or leave the building during the demonstration.

Two activists climbed on to the canopy roof outside the broadcaster’s offices, while others appeared to glue their hands to the building, in an attempt to force the BBC to declare a climate emergency.

“We’re here today to demand that the BBC respond to the emergency in the way they responded to World War Two i.e. devoting the entire professional management structure to getting the message out to the British public,” said Donnachadh McCarthy, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion.

“We’re here because the BBC has refused to declare a climate emergency. We’re also here today because the BBC continues to normalise high-carbon lifestyles with programmes like Top Gear promoting flying and driving.”

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10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction Rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers arrest an activist at London City Airport on the fourth day of demonstrations by the climate change action group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers react as an activist scales the roof above the entrance to London City Airport AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Activists blockade the Docklands Light Rail (DLR) statio AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Protests have been carried out in 60 cities around the world this week, with thousands taking to the streets of New Delhi, Cape Town, Paris, Vienna, Madrid, and Buenos Aires Reuters Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction Rebellion is demanding that governments drastically cut carbon emissions AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport An Extinction Rebellion demonstrator gestures with a banner as he occupies a raised area at City Airport in London, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. Some hundreds of climate change activists are in London during a fourth day of world protests by the Extinction Rebellion movement to demand more urgent actions to counter global warming. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers detain a protestor Reuters Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport The activist gestures after scaling the roof AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers detain protester Phil Kingston Reuters Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport An activist holds a placard during a 'Hong Kong style' blockage of the exit from the Docklands Light Railway to City Airport PA Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers react as an activist, dressed in a suit, scales the roof above the entrance to London City Airport during the fourth day of demonstrations by the climate change action group Extinction Rebellion, in London, on October 10, 2019. - Demonstrations occurred in 60 cities around the world this week, with thousands taking to the streets of New Delhi, Cape Town, Paris, Vienna, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. Extinction Rebellion is demanding that governments drastically cut carbon emissions. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police Officers stand guard as Extinction Rebellion demonstrators peacefully block an entrance at City Airport in London, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. Some hundreds of climate change activists are in London during a fourth day of world protests by the Extinction Rebellion movement to demand more urgent actions to counter global warming. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers detain Extinction Rebellion protester during a demonstration at London City Airport, in London, Britain, October 10, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls HENRY NICHOLLS REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport An activist, dressed in a suit, gestures after scaling the roof above the entrance to London City Airport during the fourth day of demonstrations by the climate change action group Extinction Rebellion, in London, on October 10, 2019. - Demonstrations occurred in 60 cities around the world this week, with thousands taking to the streets of New Delhi, Cape Town, Paris, Vienna, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. Extinction Rebellion is demanding that governments drastically cut carbon emissions. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport A demonstrator wearing an Extinction Rebellion tie is removed by Police Officers as demonstrators peacefully block an entrance at City Airport in London, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. Some hundreds of climate change activists are in London during a fourth day of world protests by the Extinction Rebellion movement to demand more urgent actions to counter global warming. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP

Nihal Arthanayake, a presenter for BBC Radio 5Live, defended the activists by comparing them to the Suffragettes and urging critics of the group to “get a grip”.

He tweeted: “I wonder how many people who support what the Suffragettes did now condemn what @ExtinctionR are doing. Or perhaps haven’t seen the parallels.

As I walked into the BBC this morning every member of @ExtinctionR apologised for the disruption. I got into work very easily. BBC people complaining should get a grip.”

The demonstration was the latest in a week of planned protests which has already seen more than 1,000 people arrested since Monday.

The group is calling for urgent action to tackle climate change and wildlife losses.

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On Thursday, demonstrations focused on London City Airport, where protesters attempted a “Hong Kong-style occupation” of the terminal building, with hundreds blocking the main entrance.

One demonstrator, named by Extinction Rebellion as former Paralympic cyclist James Brown, climbed on top of a British Airways jet.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick described the act as “reckless, stupid and dangerous”.

She added that protesters were “utterly irresponsible and completely unreasonable” for their determination to occupy central London.