Extinction Rebellion: Activists glued to Treasury after London Stock Exchange and Square Mile protests
Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists have glued themselves to the Treasury, hours after a similar protest at the London Stock Exchange, on a day of protests aimed at disrupting London's financial district.
Nine protesters, two men and seven women, formed a blockade to prevent people from entering One Horse Guards Road in Westminster.
The demonstration came hours after activists blocked two entrances at the London Stock Exchange, climbed on top of a train at Canary Wharf station and swarmed roads across the Square Mile.
Protests began today at the stock exchange where two men and five women, wore LED signs reading: "Climate emergency", "Tell the truth" and "You can't eat money", as they linked arms outside the financial institution before 7am.
Extinction Rebellion named the activists on its website and gave their ages and occupations.
They include Alan Heath, 55, a research scientist, Jen Witts, 38, a support worker, Sian Vaughan 53, a retired head teacher, Debbie Rees, 57, a gardener and artist, Kef Shimidzu, 55, a tutor, Lucy Galvin, 53, a civil servant and Johnny Woon, 60, who is retired.
A further six protesters, five men and one woman, also from Extinction Rebellion also blocked a second entrance to the stock exchange.
Among that group is a 42-year-old tree surgeon, Ben Barrage, and Dr Sandy Biden-Hoskins, 64, a doctor of archeology.
All the demonstrators were removed.
Scotland Yard said 26 people had been arrested outside the London Stock Exchange on suspicion of aggravated trespassing.
The total number of arrests made in connection with climate protests stands at 1,130, with the current number of people charged remaining at 69, the Metropolitan Police said.
Elsewhere in the financial district, protesters climbed on top of a Docklands Light Railway train at Canary Wharf station, while at least one woman glued herself to the side.
At least four people, understood to be from Christian Climate Action, were on top on the train holding signs saying "business as usual death" and "don't jail the canaries".
One of the protesters includes 83-year-old Phil Kingston. He participated in the demonstrations, on his birthday, over concerns for his grandchildren.
Minutes before, Mr Kingston, a retired Bristol University lecturer, was videoed eating a packed lunch whilst cross-legged on the DLR roof, having climbed up there using a portable ladder with other activists.
The 83-year-old’s arrest came just days after he shared a temporary stage with 16-year-old Swedish climate campaigner, Greta Thunberg at a Marble Arch rally.
The other protesters on top of the DLR train were Ruth Jarman, 55, from Hampshire, Nick Cooper, 36, who teaches shoemaking at Northampton University, Ian Bray, and Richard Barnard, 45.
They held a prayer vigil during their occupation of the train, Christian Climate Action said.
British Transport Police said five arrests had been made.
The protest is the second to take place at Canary Wharf station after two men and a woman were accused of gluing themselves to a train last Wednesday.
Cathy Eastburn, 51, Mark Ovland, 35, and Luke Watson, 29, were charged and are due to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court on May 16.
Today's protests are understood to be part of co-ordinated action against the financial industry, which Extinction Rebellion claims facilities climate change, to mark the final day of demonstrations in London.
Protesters from Extinction Rebellion have glued themselves to the front of the Treasury in Westminster.
The nine protesters, two men and seven women, have formed a chain of people preventing people from entering One Horse Guards Road.
In a statement, XR said: "Many of the most environmentally destructive companies in the world have their stock market listings at the London Stock Exchange (LSE). This institution literally trades in the devastation of our planet.
"These include fossil fuel and highly destructive mining businesses as well as those who are creating ecological catastrophe, such as the cutting down of virgin rainforest for palm oil production."
A spokesman for City of London Police, which deals with the Stock Exchange, said: "We are aware protesters have taken direct action in the City this morning. We have a policing plan in place to manage protester activity."
Yesterday, protesters in London agreed to remove blockades and campsites at Marble Arch and Parliament Square before a 'closing ceremony' takes place in Hyde Park.
In a statement announcing the end of its action XR said: "We would like to thank Londoners for opening their hearts and demonstrating their willingness to act on that truth.
"We know we have disrupted your lives. We do not do this lightly. We only do this because this is an emergency."
More than 1,000 people have been arrested during the protests which started on April 15, while more than 10,000 police officers have been deployed.
The action has seen Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus blocked and a "die-in" at the Natural History Museum.
A Transport for London spokesman said: "We are aware that there are demonstrations taking place across London which may cause disruption to travel.
"The safety of our customers and staff is our number one priority and we're working closely with the police to manage the impact on London's transport network. We would encourage people to check their journeys before they travel."
Protests staged outside Goldman Sachs
Dozens of Extinction Rebellion members have demonstrated outside the offices of bankers Goldman Sachs on Fleet Street in central London.
The group is moving down the road and blockading it at short intervals.
Protesters are carrying banners and include around a dozen drummers.
Outside Goldman Sachs right now https://t.co/6NL56PUIOJ
— Extinction Rebellion ��⌛️�� (@ExtinctionR) April 25, 2019
Square Mile targeted by climate change protesters
Swarms of climate change activists are demonstrating across several locations of London's financial district.
Extinction Rebellion said it would focus its efforts on the finance industry "and the corrosive impacts of the financial sector".
In a statement, the group said: "The global financial industry is currently enabling climate and ecological destruction on an almost unimaginable level, and a considerable proportion of this money flows through London."
Crowds of protesters are disrupting traffic near the Bank of England.
All protesters removed from London Stock Exchange
Activists from Extinction Rebellion have been removed from both entrances of the London Stock Exchange.
Extinction Rebellion have said 12 arrests have been made after climate activists demonstrated at the financial institution this morning.
According to the group, 10 people who were glued at two entrances were held along with two supporters.
Five arrests at Canary Wharf station
Police have made five arrests as climate protesters targeted Canary Wharf station this morning.
The demonstration, the second in just over a week at the DLR station, saw activists climb on top of a train as services were disrupted.
British Transport Police said five people had been removed and have been arrested on suspicion of obstructing the railway.
Police removing protests from London Stock Exchange
Protesters glued to the London Stock Exchange are now being removed by police as demonstrations across the financial district take place.
Specialists teams were called to the financial institution to remove seven activists outside the front entrance, and six blocking the back one.
Protests taking shape across City
Activists have begun demonstrating at various locations across the City of London.
Crowds have formed in Bank junction, where protesters are sat in the middle of the road, while some are holding banners that read: "Climate emergency" and "We Can't Eat Money".
Police tweeted: "We are currently aware of protesters at various locations across the City, including the Bank and Southwark Bridge areas. We have a policing plan in place to manage any direct action."
A horn sounds bringing the @ExtinctionR Bank Junction blockade to a close. With demos at the @LSEplc and #CanaryWharf station to a standstill @itvnewspic.twitter.com/Ylg9hRyiP9
— Tyrone Francis (@TJFrancisLive) April 25, 2019
Extinction Rebellion looking to disrupt traffic across City of London
Police have warned people to expect disruption across the City of London today as demonstrators prepare to "swarm" locations in attempts to disrupt traffic.
Protesters are understood to be targeting a number of locations today with Cannon Street, Fleet Street and Bank station thought to be among them.
We are aware protesters have taken direct action in the City this morning. We have a policing plan in place to manage protester activity.
— City of London Police (@CityPolice) April 25, 2019
Opposite bank station pic.twitter.com/l0p6WNzxEj
— Charlotte Maher (@CharMaher) April 25, 2019
Protesters being unglued from London Stock Exchange
Police are starting to unglue activists from the London Stock Exchange after demonstrators blocked a front and rear entrance this morning.
Specialists teams at arrived at the financial institution while police have put a cordon in place.
Extinction Rebellion have warned the operation could take some time because it is "delicate".
Police have begun removing seven glued #ExtinctionRebellion climate change protestors blocking the entrance of London Stock Exchange. Police on site say they can be arrested on two charges - criminal damage and aggravated trespass. @bbcnewspic.twitter.com/RhvfSSefaR
— Kathryn Stanczyszyn (@stanchers) April 25, 2019
Female protester glues herself to DLR train
Police are trying to remove a woman's hand glued to a train as protesters targeted Canary Wharf station again during the Extinction Rebellion protests.
Activists climbed on top of a DLR train this morning, while Diana Warner attached her hand to one of the windows.
Police are in the process of trying to remove the demonstrators.
Workers prevented from entering London Stock Exchange
The protest at the London Stock Exchange was described as the first in a planned day of disruption in the Square Mile.
Activists have glued themselves to two entrances this morning.
In a statement, Extinction Rebellion said: "Today (Thursday), Extinction Rebellion will focus the financial industry and the corrosive impacts of the financial sector on the world we live in.
"First up the London Stock Exchange where protesters are glued on to the front and back entrances preventing people from entering."
Octogenarian among train protesters at Canary Wharf
An 83-year-old grandfather joined activists on top of a train at Canary Wharf.
Phil Kingston, Christian Climate Action, is thought to be demonstrating because of concerns he has for his grandchildren.
Phil, 83, is here to #tellthetruth about his fears for the future of his grandchildren pic.twitter.com/nrJ5j7z5aL
— Extinction Rebellion ��⌛️�� (@ExtinctionR) April 25, 2019
British Transport Police "working to remove the protesters"
Officers from the British Transport Police say they are responding to the demonstration at Canary Wharf.
The force said specialist units had been deployed to the scene and it was working to "remove the protesters".
The Docklands Light Railway said it was operating with "minor delays" because of the "customer incident" at Canary Wharf.
In a statement, BTP said: "Shortly after 7.15am this morning (25/04) officers from British Transport Police were called to Canary Wharf station after a number of protesters had climbed on top of a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) service.
"Specialist units trained in protester removal were immediately deployed and are now working to safely remove those obstructing the DLR service. There are no arrests at this time.
"Some DLR services may be disrupted while teams respond, please check with Transport for London before you travel."
Police are here at #CanaryWharfpic.twitter.com/WNl6qsPgN9
— Extinction Rebellion ��⌛️�� (@ExtinctionR) April 25, 2019
We are currently responding to a protest incident at Canary Wharf station where a @LondonDLR service is being obstructed.
Specialist units are on scene who are working to remove the protesters. Please check with @TfL for travel update. pic.twitter.com/BgKz8DI9PG— British Transport Police (@BTP) April 25, 2019