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ABC News
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National

Climate activists in Rome turn Trevi fountain's water black in protest against fossil fuel subsidies

Climate activists in Rome have turned the famous Trevi fountain's water black to protest against subsidies for fossil fuel companies.

Seven protesters from the Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) group waded into the fountain and poured diluted charcoal into the water.

The group held banners saying: "We won't pay for fossil [fuels]" and chanted: "Our country is dying."

Police officers entered the water and removed the protesters.

Tourists captured video of the incident, where onlookers can be heard shouting insults at the activists.

Climate activists have staged numerous demonstrations in Italy, spraying some works of art and blocking highways.

Climate activists are removed from the water by police. (Reuters :Alessandro Penso)

In a statement, Ultima Generazione called for an end to public subsidies for fossil fuels and linked the protests to deadly floods in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna in recent days.

In a tweet, Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri condemned the protest.

"Enough of these absurd attacks on our artistic heritage," he wrote.

ABC/Reuters

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