Extinction Rebellion protest: Activists enter Shell HQ and glue themselves to government buildings

Follow the latest updates as activists plan a surprise demonstration in the capital

XR protesters enter the Shell building in London (Saphora Smith / The Independent)

Activists have glued themselves to Shell HQ and a UK government building in protests to demand action on the climate crisis as Extinction Rebellion continued its week of protests in London.

Demonstrators entered the oil and gas company offices on Wednesday afternoon, with some using glue to stick themselves to the reception desk and the ground outside.

Earlier in the day, scientists - dressed in white lab coats - glued themselves to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy building to call for no new fossil fuels.

It comes during a week of mass action by XR, which has also seen the entrance to Lloyd’s of London blocked in protest at the insurance sector’s backing of the fossil fuel industry.

Key Points

• Scientists glueing themselves to government departments
• XR blocks insurance giant offices in week of action
• Activists enter Shell building in London

[13 April 2022 09:43 · Zoe Tidman]

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Extinction Rebellion action in London during a week of protests.

[13 April 2022 10:03 · Zoe Tidman]

It is not yet clear what Extinction Rebellion are planning today.

But we do know activists are meeting at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park around about now before launching into another day of “mass action”.

[13 April 2022 10:13 · Zoe Tidman]

XR blocks insurance giant offices in week of action

While waiting to find out what they are planning to do, here is a recap of what happened yesterday.

Activists targeted insurance giant Lloyd’s of London offices, blocking employees from entering in the morning.

Matt Mathers reported:

[13 April 2022 10:34 · Zoe Tidman]

‘Why do you think people like me deserve to go to prison?'

Keir Starmer has been confronted by a youth climate activist after his party called on the government to ban fossil fuel protests across Britain.

The opposition leader looked uncomfortable when Lauren MacDonald, a 21-year-old Scottish climate activist, asked him: “Why do you think that people like me deserve to go to prison?”

[13 April 2022 10:46 · Zoe Tidman]

Who are XR?

Ahead of another day of protests in London, my colleague Joanna Taylor takes a look at who Extinction Rebellion are and their aims.

Read here:

[13 April 2022 10:58 · Zoe Tidman]

‘The social contract is broken'

Here is XR tweeting today ahead of more planned action:

[13 April 2022 11:11 · Zoe Tidman]

Meanwhile climate activists elsewhere...

XR are not the only climate group in action today.

Just Stop Oil say its members have occupied a tanker in Essex this morning:

[13 April 2022 11:43 · Zoe Tidman]

Here are some pictures from what Extinction Rebellion got up to yesterday:

XR in London on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images)

Activists from the Extinction Rebellion, demonstrate at the Lloyds of London’s head office (AFP via Getty Images)

[13 April 2022 11:48 · Zoe Tidman]

XR says scientists glueing themselves to government departments

Extinction Rebellion says scientists are “glueing themselves to government departments” to call for no new oil and gas:

[13 April 2022 12:03 · Zoe Tidman]

Scientific papers stuck to BEIS building

Scientists for XR says the Business for Energy and Industrial Strategy is being targeted.

The group says scientific papers are also being stuck to the building: