THIS is the moment the COP30 climate summit descends into chaos after a furious protestor mob smashed in and clashed with guards.
Security staff were left bleeding and being wheeled out in wheelchairs at the climate talks in Belém, Brazil.
Footage shows scores of protestors, some brandishing batons, pushing into the main venue, with many dressed in indigenous headgear.
They shout furiously, waving banners and flags bearing slogans such as: “Our forests are not for sale.”
After kicking down doors, they grapple with security and tensions boil over.
UN security staff ran behind a line of Brazilian soldiers as they struggled to deal with the violence.
The skirmish was launched late on during Tuesday’s schedule, as officials were filtering out of meetings.
Two security workers suffered minor injuries during the fracas, officials said.
The UN told the BBC that demonstrators breached the first line of defence but were prevented from getting any further.
Agustin Ocaa, a coordinator for Global Youth Coalition, said he was outside when he saw two groups of people, some with yellow shirts and some in indigenous dress, walking toward the venue.
At first they were mostly just dancing and chanting, and he decided to follow because he has some friends in the Indigenous group.
He didn’t see which group first broke through security, but said things escalated when security guards slammed the doors and called more guards.
Agustin said some of the group was chanting: “They cannot decide for us without us.”
This relates to tensions over the participation of indigenous people in the conference.
UN Climate Change said: “Brazilian and UN security personnel took protective actions to secure the venue, following all established security protocols.
“Brazilian and UN authorities are investigating the incident. The venue is fully secured, and COP negotiations continue.”
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15476367/baton-wielding-protesters-storm-cop30-climate-summit-clash/