Extinction Rebellion protests: Hundreds arrested as climate activists shut down Westminster

Protests are targeting heart of government as part of ‘international rebellion’ around world

Thousands of protesters have blocked roads around Westminster and set up camps with tents and banners to mark the start of two-week long protests to demand urgent government action on the climate and environmental crises.

Police say there have already been 280 arrests in connection with the London protests which are part of a peaceful “international rebellion” around the world.

Extinction Rebellion says the protests could be as much as five times bigger than those held in April, which brought major disruption to London and saw more than 1,100 arrests.

Demonstrators shut down roads around parliament and Whitehall in London and succeeded in bringing traffic to a standstill with roadblocks on Westminster and Lambeth Bridges, Victoria Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards Road and the Mall.

Parliament Square was empty of traffic except for police vans, bicycles and rickshaws carrying tourists, while costumed protesters walked up Whitehall, and a hearse was used to block the road at Trafalgar Square.

An impromptu cricket game was held outside the Supreme Court, and the streets rang with drumming, whistles and chanting, while dozens of tents were erected on the roads and yoga classes took place on Westminster Bridge.

Actor Sir Mark Rylance joined the roadblock in the Mall, while actor Juliet Stevenson, comedian and author Ruby Wax and model Daisy Lowe also took part in the demonstrations.

Sir Mark told Extinction Rebellion protesters at St James’s Park: “People have been saying to me, it doesn’t make a difference having a celebrity joining the protests.

“But I want people to know climate change protesters aren’t hippies. I am confident these protests are going to lead to a solid change.”

They are the latest in a string of demonstrations against climate change. Last month, millions of young people flooded onto the streets of cities around the world, inspired to take action by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

Police say there have already been 276 arrests in connection with the London protests (PA)

Extinction Rebellion says it expects peaceful protests over the next two weeks in more than 60 cities from New Delhi to New York. Demonstrators will call on governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and halt a loss of biodiversity.

They also want to see the government create and be led by the decisions of a citizens’ assembly on the issues of climate and ecological justice.

Oxford University student Fergus Green, from St Albans, said: “People are coming from all over the country. I’m here to force the government to take action on climate change.

“I’m a student, I should be at uni – my term has started. But I’m here to take action. People are missing work and school to be here.”

Church leaders took part in the occupation of Lambeth Bridge to create a “faith bridge”, with services and prayer vigils planned.

Police said one 81-year-old woman was arrested this morning.

Groups of artists held a procession around Marble Arch as the protesters were told to ‘surround’ the upcoming demonstrations with love (Reuters)

Sarah Lasenby, a Quaker and retired social worker from Oxford, was arrested as protesters from the XR Peace group blocked Victoria Embankment outside the Ministry of Defence, XR said.

She said: “For 21 years my main concern has been to help get rid of UK nuclear weapons. I am still keen to do this, but once I came across XR I was so relieved to have something I could do about the ghastly state we have got our planet in.

“The whole thing is so urgent that it is imperative the government should take serious actions and put pressure on other states and global powers to radically reduce the use of fossil fuels, even if this means we need to reduce our comfort at home and so much flying.”

Protests will also be held outside government departments, calling on them to outline what their plans are to tackle the climate emergency, along with processions, marches and a sit-in at City Airport.

Dutch police stepped in to arrest more than 100 climate change activists blocking a street in front of the country’s national museum, and there were similar protests in Austria, Spain, New Zealand and Australia.

“SORRY that we blocked the road, but this is an emergency,” declared placards held by activists in Amsterdam.

More than 1,000 people attended an “opening ceremony” at Marble Arch on Sunday evening, featuring meditation and dancing as “inspiration” prior to the protests.

Groups of artists held a procession around Marble Arch as the protesters were told to “surround” the upcoming demonstrations with love.

On Saturday, the Metropolitan Police arrested seven women and three men on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.

The arrests came after officers broke their way into the former Lambeth County Court building, which the protesters had used to store supplies for a fortnight of protest.

Members of Extinction Rebellion said police confiscated six vehicles as well as gazebos, portable toilets and bean bags – and have since claimed the arrests were pre-emptive.

A protest last week saw activists spray fake blood from an old fire engine on the Treasury in protest at funding for fossil fuels.

Additional reporting by PA