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Extinction Rebellion protests: 26 arrested after London Stock Exchange climate change protest

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Police arrested 26 people this morning after climate change activists blocked the London Stock Exchange as the Extinction Rebellion protest group targeted Square Mile financial institutions. 

Read more: Climate change protesters glue themselves to London Stock Exchange

The Metropolitan Police said they were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespassing.

Meanwhile other activists were demonstrating outside Goldman Sachs’ London office as environmental group Extinction Rebellion expands its protest into the Square Mile.

Tower Bridge has been blocked by demonstrators, who are stopping traffic in short bursts, and Transport for London (TfL) warned that the protests were causing delays on Blackfriars Bridge, Southwark Bridge, London Bridge and in Fetter Lane.

Protesters glued themselves to the London Stock Exchange this morning as they shifted their focus from London landmarks to the capital's financial sector.

A string of seven Extinction Rebellion protesters blocked the entrance to the exchange, with campaigners dressed in what they described as “Robocop-style” masks with the Extinction Rebellion logo painted on in gold.

Wearing black suits and red ties, the activists linked hands to block the entrance. Six other protesters had blocked the rear entrance.

Police removed protesters at around 9.25am.

Some of the activists had financial ticker-style LED signs hung around their necks with messages such as “you can’t eat money”, “tell the truth” and “climate emergency”.

In Whatsapp messages seen by CityAM organisers said that it was “time for money to tell the truth on its impact on the climate and ecological emergency”.

“Extinction Rebellion to focus on the financial industry today. Aim is to demand the finance industry tells the truth about the climate industry and the devastating impact the industry has on our planet,” organisers said.

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(Source: Getty)

The London Stock Exchange has a green index called FTSE4Good but it came under fire earlier this month for failing to remove a palm oil company, Golden-Agri Resources, after a series of corruption allegations and claims of unsustainable business practices.

An LSE spokesperson told CityAM that markets were open as usual and staff have been able to access the Paternoster Square offices targeted by protesters.

BRITAIN-POLITICS-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE-DEMONSTRATION
(Source: Getty)

Climate change protesters also targeted Canary Wharf station for the second time this month, climbing on top of a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) train early this morning.

British Transport Police arrested five people on suspicion of obstructing the railway.

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“Specialist units trained in protester removal were immediately deployed and have now safely removed those obstructing the DLR service,” the BTP said.

Just a week earlier three protesters glued themselves to the carriage of a DLR train at the station. Three people are currently in police custody after pleading not guilty on disruption charges.

Extinction Rebellion Hold Final March Ahead Of Leaving London
(Source: Getty)

Yesterday Canada Police warned businesses to prepare contingency plans to minimise disruption, including working from home, removing street furniture and bolster security and management presence.

Today the Metropolitan Police restricted the location of the protests as they attempted to move activists out of the Square Mile.

Officers told Extinction Rebellion they must remain in a confined area of Marble Arch.

"Anyone assembling at the Extinction Rebellion Protest at Marble Arch and wishes to continue with this assembly must assemble within the red shaded area shown on the map (or the same area which will be explained by an officer)," a spokesperson said.

"Any organiser or person taking part in the protest failing to comply with these conditions or inciting others not to comply with them will be committing an offence and will be liable to arrest."


Police have imposed conditions in Marble Arch to restrict protesters to the red shaded area (Source: Metropolitan Police)

The latest demonstration comes as the activists prepare to remove the remaining blockades in Marble Arch and Parliament Square, after closing the central London landmarks for almost two weeks.

Read more: Police issue warning as eco-activists prepare to target City banks

Protesters were removed from Oxford Circus and Waterloo Bridge earlier this week.

The Met arrested 38 activists yesterday and have charged 69 people over the protests. The total number of arrests now stands at 1,130.