UPDATE 2-Climate activists spray black dye at Bank of England in 'Money Rebellion'

(Adds police and no comment from Bank of England)

By Henry Nicholls

LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - Climate activists in London
splashed black dye on the front of the Bank of England's
imposing neo-classical headquarters on Thursday as part of a
protest against the finance sector's support of what they say is
a climate catastrophe.

Activists, some dressed as jesters, sprayed the dye at the
building, known as "the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street",
leaving black stains on the main entrance to the building.

"This bank is killing us," read a banner held up by one
protester. "No more fossil fuels," read another.

City of London police said they had arrested four people,
one for trespass and three for criminal damage. The Bank of
England declined to comment when asked by Reuters for a response
to the action.

"The action today is part of a wave of actions by XR’s Money
Rebellion designed to expose the role of banks in the climate
and ecological crisis," Extinction Rebellion said. The action is
being cast by the group as a "Money Rebellion."

The Extinction Rebellion group wants to trigger a rebellion
against the political, economic and social structure of the
modern world in time to avert the worst devastation outlined by
scientists studying climate change.

It says the Bank of England has failed to be strict enough
with commercial banks to stop them funding climate change and
wants it to be much tougher with the financial sector.

More fundamentally, the group says the Bank, which it cast
as the "Bank of Extinction", was a pillar of an economic model
based on infinite growth that prioritised short-term profit over
the health of the planet.

The group is targeting private banks too.

"It is not OK that the Bank of England can distribute money
to companies that are destroying our planet whilst millions face
the destruction of their future because of their actions," said
activist Amelia Halls, 22.

"The government is doing everything they can to greenwash
themselves when at the same time we have a financial system in
this country that is actively financing companies and
institutions that are destroying the planet."

The Bank of England was established in 1694. John Soane's
majestic Bank of England building was finished in the early 19th
century but only the exterior of that remains. The rest was
demolished and rebuilt in the early 20th century.
(Reporting by Henry Nicholls; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge;
Editing by Michael Holden, William Schomberg and Hugh Lawson)