Police dragged away protesters demonstrating over the Jeff Bezos wedding in Venice.

Footage shows members of Extinction Rebellion being forcibly removed by authorities in St Mark's Square as they staged a theatrical protest targeting the lavish wedding.

Witnesses described the police response as aggressive and unnecessary.

Activist Elisa said: 'There was no threat to public order. We were simply voicing dissent. They silenced us with force.'

The mock wedding formed part of growing outrage over Bezos's three-day celebration.

Extinction Rebellion called for taxing the ultra-rich to fund a fair ecological transition.

The group criticised the excessive consumption of billionaires, citing reports that show the top 1 per cent are responsible for 20 per cent of global temperature increases.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the richest individuals in the world, married Lauren Sanchez, a former news anchor and media personality, in Venice on June 27.