James Cook/BI
Greenpeace protestors attempt to unfurl a banner protesting Samsung at Mobile World Congress.
BARCELONA - A Samsung press conference at the major tech event Mobile World Congress was disrupted on Sunday before it began by Greenpeace protesters, who scaled the venue and attempted to unfurl a banner.
The activist environmental group was protesting over a lack of clarity from Samsung over what it intends to do with 4.3 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones it recalled in 2016 over dangerous battery defects, it said in a Spanish-language blog post. Greenpeace is concerned they won't be properly recycled.
The incident took place just before 7 PM local time in Barcelona, as journalists queued outside to enter the press conference as Samsung prepared to unveil a new premium tablet.
Staff at the venue grabbed the banner, preventing it from being unfurled, and held onto the Greenpeace climbers' ropes to stop them descending.
More to follow...
Acció! Activistes de @greenpeace_esp despleguen una pancarta a la Conferència de Samsung al Mobile World Congresshttps://t.co/6wZURjbv35 pic.twitter.com/iLNejONDYH
- Greenpeace Catalunya (@GreenpeaceCAT) February 26, 2017