Just Stop Oil protestors have climbed up the Dartford crossing to make a point

Tobi Akingbade

They aren’t stopping

Two Just Stop Oil protesters have sparked chaos in Essex and Kent on Monday morning after climbing up the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford crossing.

The two climbers scaled up two of the 84-metre-tall masts in the early hours of the morning, causing the entire bridge to be closed off.

Causing a traffic build-up during Monday morning rush hour, protesters intended for their actions to irritate oil tankers by blocking them from oil terminals in Purfleet-On-Thames, Essex.

Two Just Stop Oil supporters have climbed to the top of the Dartford Crossing.

The bridge remains closed after protestors scaled the bridge at around 5AM Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/c7Zcp6AQr6

— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) October 17, 2022

One of the protesters, civil engineer Morgan Trowland, 39, posted a video from the top of the bridge, demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas licenses and consents.

According to Essex Police, officers are currently working to resolve the situation.

They stated: “We received a report shortly before 3.50am today (Monday 17 October) that two people had climbed onto the bridge and are currently at height.

“The bridge has been closed while we resolve the incident which we will do as quickly and as safely for all involved.

“It does mean that we have had to close the bridge to traffic, but a diversion is going to be put in place through the tunnel.

“This is likely to cause delays throughout this morning and this incident may take some time to resolve due to the complexities of safely getting people down from height. Please plan your journey. We appreciate your patience and understanding.”

In an update at 6am this morning, police said that they had managed to clear a path for traffic, but there were delays of around 60 minutes.

Currently, the A828 Dartford Crossing is the only way to cross the Thames east of London by road.

In a video from the top of the bridge, protester Morgan Trowland explained: “I’m willing to do this kind of thing because I’m not willing to sit back and watch everything I love burn for the rest of my life. That’s what’s happening.”

He added: “Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production: killing human life and destroying our environment. I can’t challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I’m taking direct action, occupying the QE2 bridge until the government stops all new oil.”

🚨 Just Stop Oil protestors have thrown tomato soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery pic.twitter.com/LkJpar1SVv

— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) October 14, 2022

This comes after the protesters latest stunt.

Just last week, activists formed three roadblocks between Knightsbridge and Brompton Road in London – some even gluing themselves to the tarmac in a bid to bring traffic to a halt.

Days later, more activists sparked international uproar when they threw soup over a priceless Van Gogh painting in the National Gallery.

On their website, Just Stop Oil writes: “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. “Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future”.

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