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Police arrest 90 people as Extinction Rebellion protesters swarm central London

PA
PA

Ninety people have been arrested at the Extinction Rebellion protests in central London, Scotland Yard has said.

In a tweet, the force confirmed that officers have detained 90 people as of 6pm.

At least one was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, they said.

Others were arrested for breaching Public Order conditions, obstructing the highway and obstructing police, the Met Police added.

​Thousands of campaigners descended on Parliament Square on Tuesday afternoon where they blocked roads, bringing traffic to a standstill, chanted, banged drums and made a range of speeches.

It comes as the environmental campaign group kicks off two weeks of civil disobedience and protests in Westminster.

At least ten people were carried away by police (PA)
At least ten people were carried away by police (PA)

At least 10 people were carried away by officers after the group refused to move from the roads around Parliament Square.

Protesters chanted and cheered as the officers took them away to nearby police vans.

Four marches converged in Westminster after the Met had said the gatherings could only take place off the main roads at Parliament Square between 8am and 7pm.

Extintion Rebellion protests in central London (PA)
Extintion Rebellion protests in central London (PA)

Campaigners enjoyed a carnival-like atmosphere, waving flags and banners as they demanded the Government take the “climate crisis” seriously.

One protester, Karen Wildin, 56, a tutor from Leicester, said: “I’m here today because I have serious concerns about the future of the planet – we need to put this above anything else.

“Never mind Covid, never mind A-levels, this is the biggest crisis facing us and we need to raise the message as loudly as possible.

“Not a lot has been done on this issue, everyone needs to hear the message.”

Sarah Lunnon, a prominent member of Extinction Rebellion, said: “The failure to act on this issue will have a catastrophic impact on the future of us and the generations to come.

“We want to occupy Parliament Square to make our voices heard. Of course we’re in the middle of a pandemic but we’re balancing the risk, this is the biggest issue facing us.”

Last year, more than 1,700 arrests were made during Extinction Rebellion’s 10-day “Autumn Uprising”, which saw major disruption across the UK.

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