Greenpeace smog protesters tie gas masks to faces of London statues

Current proposal to limit air pollution in London called inadequate

CBC News Posted: Apr 18, 2016 3:37 PM ET

Greenpeace activists climbed statues in locations around London on Monday morning and strapped gas masks around the statues' faces, including that of Admiral Horatio Nelson on the 52-metre high Nelson's Column. The stunts were a protest over air pollution in London, which Greenpeace in a news release said is among the worst in Europe. 

(Andy Rain/EPA)

(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Scaling the famous column in Trafalgar Square wasn't the only dangerous feat.

Activists jumped over the fence around the Houses of Parliament and managed to avoid security in order to place a gas mask upon the face of a statue of Oliver Cromwell. 

(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Activists offer statues 'protection from London's dirty air.'

Greenpeace says it's trying to bring attention to air pollution throughout London, and what it considers lacklustre legislation on air quality. The non-profit is asking for a "clean air zone," an expanded version of a proposed "low emissions zone," which only covers central London. 

(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria were outfitted with gas masks. 

The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and a monument to Queen Victoria seated opposite Buckingham Palace both received a gas mask. 

(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

(Chris Ratcliffe/Greenpeace)

Not all the protesters made a clean getaway.

Police waited to arrest two Greenpeace protesters after they attached a mask to Lord Nelson's statue at the top of Nelson's Column. They were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, according to the Huffington Post. Two others at the Cromwell statue were also arrested by police.

(Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

(Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

Greenpeace targeted 17 statues for the gas mask protest.

Other monuments and landmarks that activists have climbed to place a gas mask include Achilles in Hyde Park, Eros in Piccadilly Circus and Boudicca at Westminster Bridge.

(Chris Ratcliffe/Greenpeace)

(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

(John Cobb/Greenpeace)