Extinction Rebellion London protests live: Third day of action starts as arrests total 600
Welcome to our rolling news coverage of the third day of London’s Extinction Rebellion protests.
Please refresh this page manually for the latest updates.
8.30am: Met confirms 600 arrests as Extinction Rebellion protests start third day
Extinction Rebellion’s London protests have entered their third day today as police reveal they have arrested close to 600 people and threatened to take more into custody.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it has arrested 552 people over the first two days of the London climate change demonstrations, and has ordered protesters to confine their protests to Trafalgar Square.
Read more: Is Extinction Rebellion right to target its climate change anger at capitalism?
However, protesters are set to hit London City Airport and this week, and have glued themselves to vehicles outside the Home Office and the Department for Transport building.
“Any assembly linked to the Extinction Rebellion ‘Autumn Uprising’…who wish to continue with their assembly MUST go to Trafalgar Square and only assemble in the pedestrianised area around Trafalgar Column,” the Met warned last night.
“This action is necessary in order to prevent the demonstrations from causing serious disruption to the community.
“Anyone who fails to comply with the condition is liable to arrest and prosecution.”
So far Extinction Rebellion activists have brought London traffic to a standstill around Westminster and Trafalgar Square and they have attempted to occupy Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Bridge.
Today the climate change activism group called on “rebels to pledge to noncooperation at police stations should they be arrested for making a nonviolent stand for the future of their children and grandchildren”.
Read more: Extinction Rebellion deletes ‘misleading’ advice on doing yoga in prison
Police have started trying to clear out Extinction Rebellion protest camps surrounding Westminster yesterday after banning London demonstrations outside Trafalgar Square.
Officers targeted encampments on Millbank and Whitehall, where hundreds of tents were pitched outside Downing Street.
Extinction Rebellion protests are taking place worldwide, in almost 60 cities incluyding Sydney, Berling, Paris and Amsterdam.
Read more: London City Airport braces for Extinction Rebellion shutdown
In the UK the group wants the government to commit to a carbon neutral economy by 2025.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged the protesters to quit London, calling them “uncooperative crusties” and demanding they leave their “hemp-smelling bivouacs”.
Main image credit: Getty Images