UK police arrest more than 100 in climate change protests

SUMMARY

Police say they have arrested more than 120 people after climate change protesters blocked major bridges and intersections in central London, bringing traffic to a standstill. The group Extinction Rebellion is organising several weeks of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. Chief Supt. Colin Wingrove said police were dealing with a number of demonstrations in central London which had had a significant impact on public transit. He said 55 bus routes had to be shut down and roughly 500,000 people had been affected. "At this time, ongoing demonstrations are causing serious disruptions to public transport, local businesses and Londoners who wish to go about their daily business," he said, adding that police expect the protests to last several weeks. On Monday, demonstrators blocked sites including Waterloo Bridge over the River Thames, the busy Oxford Circus intersection and Parliament Square, and vandalized the headquarters of oil company Shell. After hours of disruption, police ordered the group to confine protests to Marble Arch, beside Hyde Park. Scores of demonstrators who refused to move were arrested — 122 by early Tuesday afternoon — and traffic movement was slowed in several parts of central London.

By CNBCTV18.COM Apr 16, 2019 10:32:04 PM IST (Updated)

The road is blocked by demonstrators during a climate protest at Marble Arch in London, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The group Extinction Rebellion is calling for a week of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Police officers patrol past a village of tents during a climate protest at Marble Arch in London, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The group Extinction Rebellion is calling for a week of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A worker cleans the water in a pond next to the village of tents during a climate protest at Marble Arch in London, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The group Extinction Rebellion is calling for a week of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Telephone boxes have 'REBEL' graffiti written across them during a climate protest at Marble Arch in London, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The group Extinction Rebellion is calling for a week of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A banner is tied to a lamp post as the road is blocked during a climate protest at Oxford Circus in London, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The group Extinction Rebellion is organizing a week of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Police stand guard as demonstrators camp on the road during a climate protest in Oxford Circus in London, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The group Extinction Rebellion is organizing a week of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A temporary food stall serves the demostrators as the road is blocked during a climate protest at Oxford Circus in London, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The group Extinction Rebellion is organizing a week of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Writing on the side of a temporary toilet set up as the road is blocked during a climate protest at Oxford Circus in London, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The group Extinction Rebellion is organizing a week of civil disobedience against what it says is the failure to tackle the causes of climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)