Extinction Rebellion protest: Police make more than 80 arrests after hundreds blocked central London bridges in climate change demonstration

Ella Wills17 November 2018

Hundreds of protesters today descended on central London sparking major disruption in a "day of rebellion" over climate change.

Police made more than 80 arrests as demonstrators blocked several bridges from 10am on Saturday in a call for the Government to take greater action against the looming climate crisis.

Activists from the Extinction Rebellion group blocked five bridges – Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark – this morning.

All roads later reopened, with protesters moving towards Parliament Square.

Police with demonstrators on Blackfriars Bridge
PA

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the demonstration had a "having a direct impact" on Londoners and the emergency services.

Extinction Rebellion protest - in pictures

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The campaign group encouraged people to perform a sit-in across the five London bridges in the mass protest, which follows a co-ordinated week of action around the UK.

Hundreds blocked Westminster Bridge for the protest
PA

The five bridges were fully closed to traffic during the protest, TfL Traffic News tweeted in an update.

And there were long delays on the approach to each of the sit-ins, including Strand, Victoria Embankment, York Road, Lambeth Road, London Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge.

Activists from the Extinction Rebellion group blocked five bridges
PA

The Metropolitan Police urged protesters to gather at Westminster Bridge where officers "will facilitate lawful protest".

Officers have so far made 45 arrests for offences under the obstruction of Highway Act ad Bail Act offences.

In a tweet on its MPS Events account, the forced said "emergency service vehicles are currently being hampered from getting across London due to the blockade".

Images and video shared online showed huge crowds gathered on Westminster Bridge.

Jo Khimba, who was taking part in the protest, told the group: "We've got to care for each other, and for god's sake, we've got to care for the world."

Two women - who did not want to be named - attended the protest dressed as bumble bees.

Demonstrators take part in the protest on Saturday
AFP/Getty Images

They told the Press Association: "I have concern for my children and grandchildren. I truthfully believe we're all heading for extinction.

"Climate change is so important, it's coming over so fast and nothing is being done."

Supt Waheed Khan, spokesman for the Met, said: "The demonstration has been ongoing since 10am today and despite calls from us to move towards Westminster Bridge where we can facilitate their protest, the demonstrators continue to block a further three bridges namely Waterloo, Lambeth and Blackfriars.

“The demonstration is having a direct impact on others across London who wish to go about their daily business – and the emergency services from using the bridges to travel around London. Given that the organisers failed to engage with police prior to the event, we were unable to work with them around their plan and to make considerations for other Londoners.

“So far we have made 45 arrests for offences under the obstruction of Highway Act and Bail Act offences.”

Like other protesters, they called on the Government to halt fracking programmes and "work hard to reduce carbon emissions to zero long before 2050," which is the current goal.

Organisers of the protests estimate that 50 people have been arrested for partaking in action over the last week.

A total of 22 people were arrested on Monday after protesters blocked traffic and glued themselves to entry gates at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

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