Police detained at least 181 protesters during a demonstration organised by environmental group Elokapina (Extinction Rebellion Finland) in Helsinki on Monday, police said.
Several hundreds of protesters bearing various banners and festoons participated in the demonstration to press home their demands for stopping excessive logging, protecting biodiversity and reducing funding in anti-environment projects, said the demonstrators.
They gathered from different parts in the city with processions through important vantages and held a rally at Senate Square at about 3:00 p.m. disrupting traffic movement at the downtown and adjacent roads.
They also chanted various slogans against the anti-environment moves taken by the government.
Police ordered the protesters to leave the roads but they did not pay heed to the order prompting the law enforcers to arrest at least 181 demonstrators from different parts of the city to make the place free for traffic movement, said police.
Police in a press release said that they arrested about 50 protesters from various locations by 4:38 p.m.
They also arrested 112 demonstrators from Mannerheimintie and Teollisuuskatu areas at about 8:00 p.m. and 19 protesters from Hämeentie area at about 9:25p.m.
Police, however, said that the arrested people will be released after interrogation.
- Elokapina
- Protest
- Helsinki
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
