Extinction Rebellion day five centres on tussle for control of Oxford Circus

Pink boat becomes focus of attention on fifth day of Extinction Rebellion protests

The siege of the Berta Ciceres started started shortly after noon when police in high-vis jackets surrounded the bright pink boat in Oxford Circus, central London, with two cordons and then steadily peeled off the Extinction Rebellion activists stuck to it.

Officers with angle grinders cut through the bars below the hull of the vessel, named after the murdered Honduran environmental activist, which protesters had chained and glued themselves to.