Greenpeace smog protesters tie gas masks to faces of London statues

Greenpeace activists climbed statues in locations around London on Monday morning and strapped gas masks around the statues' faces, including that of Admiral Horatio Nelson on the 52-metre high Nelson's Column.Thestunts were a protest over air pollution in London, which Greenpeace in a news releasesaid is among the worst in Europe.

Scaling thefamous column in Trafalgar Square wasn't the only dangerous feat.

Activists jumped over the fence around the Houses of Parliament and managed to avoid security in order to place a gas mask upon the face of a statue of Oliver Cromwell.

Activists offerstatues 'protection from London's dirty air.'

Greenpeace says it's trying to bring attention to air pollution throughout London, and what it considers lacklustre legislation on air quality. The non-profit is asking for a "clean air zone," an expanded version of aproposed"low emissions zone," which only covers central London.

Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria were outfitted withgas masks.

The statue ofWinston Churchill in Parliament Square and a monument toQueen Victoria seated opposite Buckingham Palaceboth received a gas mask.

Not all the protesters made a clean getaway.

Police waited to arrest two Greenpeace protesters after they attached a mask to Lord Nelson's statue at the top of Nelson's Column. They were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, according to the Huffington Post.Two others at the Cromwell statue were also arrested by police.

Greenpeace targeted 17 statues for thegas mask protest.

Other monuments and landmarks that activists have climbed to place a gas mask include Achilles in Hyde Park, Eros in Piccadilly CircusandBoudiccaat Westminster Bridge.