This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47987891
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Extinction Rebellion: Police move in on London protesters | Extinction Rebellion: Police move in on London protesters |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of police officers have closed in on Extinction Rebellion protesters in central London as demonstrations entered a fifth day. | Hundreds of police officers have closed in on Extinction Rebellion protesters in central London as demonstrations entered a fifth day. |
| Officers surrounded a pink boat in Oxford Circus as actress Dame Emma Thompson told activists her generation had "failed young people". | Officers surrounded a pink boat in Oxford Circus as actress Dame Emma Thompson told activists her generation had "failed young people". |
| More than 570 people have been arrested at protests this week in Oxford Circus, Parliament Square and Waterloo Bridge | More than 570 people have been arrested at protests this week in Oxford Circus, Parliament Square and Waterloo Bridge |
| Dame Emma joined the protests after flying from Los Angeles on Thursday. | Dame Emma joined the protests after flying from Los Angeles on Thursday. |
| She said: "We are here in this little island of sanity and it makes me so happy to be able to join you all and to add my voice to the young people here who have inspired a whole new movement." | She said: "We are here in this little island of sanity and it makes me so happy to be able to join you all and to add my voice to the young people here who have inspired a whole new movement." |
| At the scene: Shamaan Freeman-Powell, BBC News | |
| On Friday morning protesters were setting up a children's area in hopes of making it a fun family event for Easter. | On Friday morning protesters were setting up a children's area in hopes of making it a fun family event for Easter. |
| Demonstrators have also started "people assembly meetings" to discuss the group's next moves. | Demonstrators have also started "people assembly meetings" to discuss the group's next moves. |
| Dame Emma Thompson was greeted by crowds with cheers and songs as she stepped up to the bright pink boat, which seems to have become the centre piece of the protest. | Dame Emma Thompson was greeted by crowds with cheers and songs as she stepped up to the bright pink boat, which seems to have become the centre piece of the protest. |
| After she spoke the crowds began to take their seats on the ground, making it clear they weren't prepared to move anytime soon. | After she spoke the crowds began to take their seats on the ground, making it clear they weren't prepared to move anytime soon. |
| By midday, police filed into the protests and started to create a barrier to contain people. | By midday, police filed into the protests and started to create a barrier to contain people. |
| Officers are starting to block every entrance to the event and seem to have a stronger stance compared to previous days. | Officers are starting to block every entrance to the event and seem to have a stronger stance compared to previous days. |
| Police wearing jackets saying "protester removal team" have begun carrying and leading activists away from the protest in Oxford Circus. | |
| One woman was carried out the cordons by four officers while a man led was away by two more. | |
| Protests are still being held at Waterloo Bridge and Parliament Square. The Met Police said officers had been working 12-hour shifts and have had leave cancelled. | |
| It comes as a small group of demonstrators staged a protest at Heathrow Airport amid threats to disrupt flights over Easter. | It comes as a small group of demonstrators staged a protest at Heathrow Airport amid threats to disrupt flights over Easter. |
| Protesters stood by the tunnel leading to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, but all roads remain open. | Protesters stood by the tunnel leading to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, but all roads remain open. |
| However, Robin Ellis-Cockcroft, 24, said the group had succeeded in creating an "emotional disruption" at Heathrow, adding that no further Extinction Rebellion protests would take place on Friday. | However, Robin Ellis-Cockcroft, 24, said the group had succeeded in creating an "emotional disruption" at Heathrow, adding that no further Extinction Rebellion protests would take place on Friday. |
| Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: "This is very, very difficult for us because my colleagues have never come across the situation that they are faced with at the moment. | Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: "This is very, very difficult for us because my colleagues have never come across the situation that they are faced with at the moment. |
| "They are dealing with very, very passive people, probably quite nice people, who don't want confrontation whatsoever with the police or anyone else but are breaking the law." | "They are dealing with very, very passive people, probably quite nice people, who don't want confrontation whatsoever with the police or anyone else but are breaking the law." |
| Environmental activists have also been in action in other parts of the world. | Environmental activists have also been in action in other parts of the world. |
| In Paris, they blocked the entrance of the Societe Generale bank headquarters, as part of a protest urging world leaders to act on climate change. | In Paris, they blocked the entrance of the Societe Generale bank headquarters, as part of a protest urging world leaders to act on climate change. |
| Pepper spray was used by anti-riot police in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators. | Pepper spray was used by anti-riot police in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators. |
| Activists also gathered outside the Ministry of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition in La Defense, near Paris, and blocked the entrance of the headquarters of French oil giant Total there. | Activists also gathered outside the Ministry of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition in La Defense, near Paris, and blocked the entrance of the headquarters of French oil giant Total there. |
| Sign up for a weekly chat about climate change on Facebook Messenger |