Topless Femen activist with words ‘God is Woman’ written on her body ran through St Peter's Square Thursday Dec 25,2014

 

A feminist activist ran topless through St Peter's Square and rushed the nativity scene before attempting to flee with the baby Jesus figurine. 

The woman, who had the words 'God Is Woman' written on her chest, started her protest just one hour after Pope Francis delivered his Christmas message.  

Thousands of pilgrims were still standing in the famous square when the woman, who is a member of Femen, was ambushed by a guard on her way off the platform.

She was quickly arrested by officers from the Vatican police.

 

Today's incident was captured on film and posted online this afternoon.

In the 54-second clip, the woman is seen running from the crowd up a flight of stairs on to the stage where the nativity scene is set up. 

She rushes across the platform towards the stable that had been built to represent the one that Jesus was born in. 

She grabs the figurine before trying to flee the square from the other side of the stage. 

But just moments later, she is ambushed by a member from the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State, the Vatican's security force.