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Environmental activists in canoe block Brisbane road during peak hour

Environmental activists have struck once more in Australia, this time causing peak-hour disruption on a major Brisbane bridge by blocking traffic in a canoe.

Four activists jumped into the vessel placed across several lanes on Victoria Bridge in Brisbane's CBD on Thursday morning.

Officers were first alerted to the disruption at about 7.30am.

A Queensland Police spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia protestors were “physically removed” when officers were forced to “drag” the canoe off the bridge as the protestors refused to leave.

The four protestors in the canoe on Thursday morning on Victoria Bridge, Brisbane.
The protestors in the canoe on Thursday morning. Source: Facebook/ Extinction Rebellion
Police say the stunt caused little disruption on Brisbane's Victoria Bridge
Police say the stunt caused little disruption. Source: Facebook/ Extinction Rebellion

Police took the canoe to an area close to the Southbank precinct shortly after their arrival.

No arrests have been made as of yet, police say.

The spokesperson said disruption to traffic was minimal.

A stunt to raise awareness of climate change

The group responsible for the stunt, Extinction Rebellion, took to Facebook to share images and footage of the protest.

They said the latest protest was to highlight the suffering of “climate refugees”.

Emergency response personnel drag the canoe from Victoria Bridge in Brisbane.
Officers were forced to drag the canoe from the bridge. Source: Extinction Rebellion

“The boat used is to draw attention to the millions of climate refugees that are already starting to suffer from desertification and rising oceans,” a post read.

The group held banners referencing Rebellion Day, scheduled for August 6.

The group claims Brisbane will see hundreds of Non-Violent rebels orchestrate a shut down of the business as usual of central Brisbane on that date.

The group was also responsible for another stunt in Brisbane earlier this month when two people glued themselves to the road.

When they were asked what they were doing, the man said they were protesting against "an extinction".

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