Venice activists plan to disrupt Jeff Bezos's wedding

The Amazon founder and Lauren Sánchez are due to tie the knot next week - as activists say Venice is being turned into an "asset" for the rich and famous.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveVenice activists plan to disrupt Jeff Bezos's wedding2 days agoShareSaveLaura GozziBBC NewsShareSaveStefano Mazzola/Getty ImagesActivists unfurled various anti-Bezos banners around VeniceActivists in Venice have launched a series of protests against Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, who is due to marry fiancée Lauren Sánchez next week in a lavish, multi-million dollar ceremony that could shut parts of the famous city down.

Jeff Bezos, 61, is the world's third richest person, with an estimated net worth of $220.9bn. He is the founder of Amazon and space tech company Blue Origin.

Hundreds of high-profile guests are due to descend on Venice between 23 and 28 June for the nuptials, which will reportedly take over the whole island of San Giorgio, opposite St Mark's Square.

According to Italian media almost every luxury hotel has been booked out by the wedding party, as have many water taxis.

"Venice is being treated like a showcase, a stage," said Federica Toninelli, a 33-year-old Venetian activist affiliated with the No Space for Bezos protest group.