Five activists including Extinction Rebellion (XR) Co-Founder Roger Hallam were arrested by the Met Police and charged yesterday (August 25) ahead of planned demonstrations this weekend.

All five people arrested by the Met were charged with "conspiracy to cause criminal damage" before the start of a series of protests starting on Friday (August 28) aimed at raising awareness of the climate crisis and escalating ecological catastrophe.

Hallam, of Putney Bridge Road in Wandsworth, helped start Extinction Rebellion back in 2018 and has been arrested various times and spent time in jail for climate-related activism.

On Wednesday (August 26), a spokesperson for the Met confirmed the charges of all five people, four of whom are thought to be affiliated with XR.

"Five people charged and remanded from Court ahead of planned protests," the statement released Wednesday said.

"The following people all appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 August, charged with conspiracy to cause criminal damage:

"[A] Roger Hallam, 54 (14.05.66) of Putney Bridge Road, Wandsworth

"[B] Diana Warner,61 (14.03.59) of Filton Avenue, Bristol

"[C] Ferhat Ulusu, 42 (15.04.78) of Mount Pleasant, Hackney

"[D] Holly Brentall, 28 (06.09.91) of Clonmell Road, Haringey

"[E] Steven Nunn, 56 (22.07.64) of Longdon upon Tern, Telford.

"They were all remanded in custody to appear at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday, 22 September.

"All five suspects were arrested on Monday, 24 August and charged on Tuesday, 25 August."

XR announced a new "rebellion" that will commence on September 1 aimed at forcing the government to drastically reduce carbon emissions and call for a people's assembly to help avert the climate crisis.

"Beginning Friday August 28, Extinction Rebellion’s ‘Countdown to Rebellion’ will kick off in towns and cities across the UK," a statement released by XR ahead of the demonstrations reads.

"The weekend will be filled with creative, nonviolent direct action to draw attention to the greatest existential threat we face – the climate and ecological emergency.

"People up and down the country will come together in their communities to tell the government that, frankly, we’ve had enough of them putting us all at risk."

The UN Secretary General António Guterres warned last year that "the climate emergency is a race we are losing" as he urged nations and states to drastically reduce their carbon emissions and avoid "apocalyptic" impacts of global heating.