Just Stop Oil protests - live: Climate activists block A4 after Dartford Crossing reopens
Activists block traffic in London to raise alarm about climate crisis
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Just Stop Oil protesters have blocked a busy road in London in the latest round of demonstrations aimed at raising the alarm about the climate emergency.
Dozens of activists stopped traffic on the A4 Cromwell Road near the Natural History Museum in Kensington as they demanded the government halt all new fossil fuel licences.
It come after a major bridge on the Dartford Crossing reopened to traffic after two Just Stop Oil protesters hung off it for 37 hours, causing severe delays.
The Queen Elizabeth II bridge on the M25 was closed off to drivers after two activists scaled the 190-ft structure on Monday morning and even spent the night up there.
National Highways confirmed the bridge reopened to drivers just before 10pm that night after being checked for damages.
M25 delays: Just Stop Oil protesters climb Dartford Crossing QEII bridge forcing closureMoment Just Stop Oil protesters throw soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers masterpiece
Climate protesters hit Van Gogh’s Sunflowers with soup. Were they right?
Who are Just Stop Oil? The climate protestors blocking the Dartford Crossing
What else have Just Stop Oil been up to this month?
Just Stop Oil are carrying out a month of protests in a call to end all new oil and gas licenses.
Here is a recap of some of the biggest moments so far:
Van drives through Just Stop Oil protesters blocking London road
A frustrated van driver nudged Just Stop Oil protesters out of the way as they were blocking a road in Knightsbridge on Tuesday morning. The man can be seen slowly accelerating forward as at least four people wearing high-vis try to push his vehicle back. Eventually, those blocking the van move out of the way and the driver can be heard saying “thank you” as he pulls away. Those who were nudged out of the way assume their positions in the road again afterwards, sitting down to block more London traffic. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Climate activist pours human faeces over Captain Tom statue
Footage appears to show a climate activist pouring human faeces over a memorial for Captain Tom Moore. The 21-year-old woman in the video - named only as Maddie - was wearing a T-shirt with the words: “End UK Private Jets.” She can be seen pouring the faeces over a statue of Sir Tom, which stands in Thistley Meadow, Derbyshire. In a separate video, the activist claimed that every time a private jet takes off in the UK, “it pours a bucket of s*** and blood onto everything that Captain Tom stood for”. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Protesters throw tomato soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers masterpiece
One of the activists shouted, ‘What is worth more, art or life?’
Just Stop Oil protesters glue themselves to the road outside Buckingham Palace
Specialist officers used debonding liquid in plastic syringes to unglue campaigners
Just Stop Oil ‘undeterred'
Just Stop Oil has vowed to keep causing disruption until its demands are met:
Traffic around Dartford Crossing
Just Stop Oil protesters on the Queen Elizabeth II bridge continue to cause traffic chaos in the surrounding area.
Live trackers show there is gridlock around Thurrock, Purleet, Dartford, South Ockendon and Lakeside.
National Highways shows traffic was moving slowly along stretches of the M25 in the area in the afternoon.
Images from Dartford Crossing protest
And here are some images from the Queen Elizabeth II bridge today:
Police arrest 26 in Hammersmith protest
Just Stop Oil have also been active in west London this morning.
Police have arrested 26 protesters who blocked a road around Barons Court tube station in Hammersmith - some of whom had glued themselves to the tarmac or locked themselves to others.
Here are some images from the action today:
Why is the Dartford Crossing important?
The A282 Dartford Crossing is the only way to cross the Thames east of London by road.
The 1.7-mile Queen Elizabeth II bidge southbound and two 0.8-mile tunnels northbound link Essex and Kent.
The A282 also connects directly at both ends with the M25 London Orbital Motorway, one of the busiest in Europe.
Activist shares footage on top of bridge
Just Stop Oil activist who spent the night hanging from the near-450ft high cables of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge has shared footage from his makeshift bed.
Watch on Independent TV:
Just Stop Oil activist hangs nearly 450ft above Dartford Crossing in makeshift bed
A Just Stop Oil activist who spent the night hanging from the near-450ft high cables of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge has shared footage from his makeshift bed. Morgan Trowland, a civil engineer, said he had “just survived the first night” atop the Dartford Crossing, and will stay there until the government cancels all new oil and gas extraction licenses. “It was pretty cold and didn’t sleep much, but I’m okay,” Mr Trowland said. The protest has forced the full closure of the bridge, which is the only overground road over the Thames east of London. Sign up for our newsletters.
Essex Police on Dartford Crossing protest
Here is the latest from an Essex Police spokesperson on the protest at the Dartford Crossing:
“We’re working with our partners to identify the safest and quickest way to resolve the situation. But as you can imagine, they’re 100 metres up in the air. It’s very complex. These things can take time.”
Traffic jams around bridge
Independent TV has some footage showing the travel chaos around the crossing this morning:
Just Stop Oil: Long traffic delays continue around Dartford Crossing for second day
Traffic chaos has continued into the second day as Just Stop Oil activists remain atop Queen Elizabeth II bridge on Tuesday morning (18 October). This footage recorded by Lisa Gordon shows the buildup of cars along the A2 by Bluewater Shopping Centre, at around 7am. In a bid to grab the government’s attention for climate action, protesters climbed the bridge standing 190-foot above the water forcing the closure of the only overground road across the Thames east of London. National Highways tweeted just after 7am that six miles of traffic had already formed around the Dartford Crossing. Sign up for our newsletters.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments