Activists have been forming human barricade at the bridge entrances
Traffic on four of London’s busiest bridges has been brought to a standstill because of Extinction Rebellion protestors.
Activists from the group have lined the roads outside Blackfriars, Westminster, Waterloo and Lambeth bridges ahead of the Friday afternoon rush hour.
In a tweet, the group said: “We will #RebelForLife till the Government act like its a #ClimateEmergency and end all new oil & gas. 3 years ago XR made a garden on Waterloo bridge & occupied London. We will go on till we meet our demands.”
BREAKING NEWS: Blackfriars, waterloo, westminster, lambeth have been blocked by Extinction Rebellion right now. pic.twitter.com/Gu1Tjih2RM
— Extinction Rebellion UK 🌍 (@XRebellionUK) April 15, 2022
🚨 IT'S HAPPENING NOW 🚨
Rebels are swarming across London, part of a global wave of civil disobedience as people wake up to the fact that our leaders are failing to tackle the #ClimateCrisis
They promise #BuildBackBetter but all they do is pour oil on the 🔥 #JustStopOil pic.twitter.com/FsQXptBlbR
— Extinction Rebellion UK 🌍 (@XRebellionUK) April 15, 2022
Protestors have also gathered at Hyde Park Corner, bringing the roundabout there to a standstill with a human barrier.
They have said they are continuing to let emergency services through their barricades.
https://twitter.com/SteveRightNLeft/status/1514956047533973509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1514956047533973509%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-40683362813037525248.ampproject.net%2F2203172113000%2Fframe.html
A crowd has also gathered outside Charing cross police station, with protests there to demand the release of activist Emma Smart who is being held there.
The Metro reports that Smart is believed to have been arrested for gluing her hand to a window and was denied bail.
Scientists and medics with @XRebellionUK are gathering outside Charing Cross police station to demand the release of Emma Smart (@smartyfish), a marine biologist who has been held since Wednesday pic.twitter.com/hFaP1OLz5t
— Damien Gayle (@damiengayle) April 15, 2022
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We are aware of a number of demonstrations happening today. We are seeing pockets of protest which are causing delays and disruption across central London.
“A policing operation is in place and officers are on scene and working to manage the impact.”
It is exactly three years since Extinction Rebellion’s first major mass demonstration, which caused chaos in London in April 2019.
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