53 held from Elokapina demos in Helsinki, later released

All the 53 detainees, who were held from demonstrations organised by pro-climate group Elokapina (Extinction Rebellion Finland) in Helsinki late Friday night were released, said Elokapina.

"The 53 adults and six minors, who were detained on Pitkäsilta yesterday (Friday) were released during the night," Elokapina wrote in a twitter post in Finnish on Saturday.

The police arrested 53 people from Helsinki city centre following two demonstrations at Mannerheimintie and Pitkäsilta, said police in a press release late Friday night, adding that the detainees will be released later.

Police said that the demonstrations disrupted vehicular movement at the area and the demonstrators did not pay heed to police orders to leave the scene despite repeated moves, which prompted the members of the law enforcing agency to arrest them.

Elokapina activists said that the incident of blocking Pitkäsilta in Helsinki was to protest against the destruction of ecosystems, the extinction of species, and a government that continues to act as though all that did not concern us.

Earlier, Elokapina announced to hold protest rallies in Helsinki every day from October 5 to October 14 terming it as an opportunity to take part in its Autumn campaign to stop the current slide towards catastrophe.

Friday was the last day of the programme.

Extinction Rebellion is a leaderless, decentralised, international and apolitical network using non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

It urged people to channel environmental anxiety to concrete action through means that is proven and effective: non-violent direct action side by side with hundreds of other like-minded, determined rebels.

Earlier in May, police detained 28 protesters during a demonstration organised by Elokapina at the Helsinki Airport.