Extinction Rebellion protests: Arrests soar to 1,000 as blind paralympian clambers on top of British Airways plane
Climate activists glue themselves to arrival lounge in 'Hong Kong-style' occupation of London City airport
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Extinction Rebellion began a three-day “Hong Kong-style” occupation of London City Airport today as the number of protesters arrested soared to 1,000.
A blind paralympian climbed on top of a British Airways plane after another boarded another plane and stopped it taking off. Meanwhile, dozens of climate activists glued themselves onto the front of the departure and arrival gates at the airport.
The airport occupation is part of Extinction Rebellion's two-week protest to demand greater government action on the climate crisis. The group says extreme weather caused by climate change would lead to crop losses, food crises, social unrest and damage to infrastructure, and people were risking arrest to show "how vulnerable we are".
But Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said said the protesters were "utterly irresponsible and completely unreasonable" for their determination to take over and occupy important arterial roads in London for a two-week period She urged them to demonstrate in the pedestrian area of Trafalgar Square, saying: "Protest lawfully or go home."
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Who are Extinction Rebellion?
So far there have been more than 800 arrests at the Extinction Rebellion protests in London as activists demand urgent government action on the climate crisis. Protests are also taking place in 23 other cities around the world which have seen hundreds of additional arrests.
But who are Extinction Rebellion’s supporters, what are they hoping to achieve and what are their tactics? Read more here:
'Kettled' octopus spotted in Trafalgar Square
Good news for octopi lovers. After it was "kettled" by police on Wednesday, this pink octopus sculpture has cropped up in Trafalgar Square.
Colin Drury
Met Comissioner Cressida Dick says protests are 'reckless' dangerous and stupid'
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has branded the actions of a protester who clambered on a plane as "reckless, dangerous and stupid".
"But I think you can see that is quite a hard thing to predict or stop from happening," she added. "We will do a full review of the security there, of course we will.
"These protesters have shown they are determined to go where they can, when they can, occupy what they can and disrupt whoever they can, frankly."
Arrests soar to 1,000
Police said more than 1,000 people have now been arrested, including around 50 at the airport on Thursday.
Police officers taken away from tackling knife crime or safeguarding children, Met Comissioner says
Met Comissioner Cressida Dick said officers usually dedicated to tackling knife crime or safeguarding children have been called on to police the protests.
"We are already taking people away from keeping people safe in local areas and putting them into central London, particularly, more than in the last five years," she said.
"We have the skills, the leadership and fantastic officers to continue to do that, but of course it takes its toll."
Addressing Extinction Rebellion activists, she said: "Protest lawfully or go home. You have caused disruption to many people and caused misery to some people's lives.
"We have cleared you away again and again, and now secured the sites you really wanted to occupy. You have a place to protest. Go and protest there."
Met Police says it has "not run out of cell capacity"
The Metropolitan Police says it is very busy but has "not run out of cell capacity".
Police moving in on streets leading to Trafalgar Square
Police are trying to remove protesters locked on at Northumberland Avenue which leads to Trafalgar Square, Extinction Rebellion said.
'Of course Extinction Rebellion is unpopular, they're forcing us to sacrifice our selfishness'
Extinction Rebellion protesters can make their point, they should just do it without disrupting anything, maybe by drawing a turtle or looking out of the window. Only then can we contemplate giving up a few bad habits, Mark Steel writes.
'We are alerting the British people to the crisis that we're in'
Extinction Rebellion co-founder Gail Bradbrook says the group is "alerting British people to the crisis we're in".
Speaking to PA news agency about the success of the demonstration, she said: “I think the most important thing is that we are alerting the British people to the crisis that we're in and the threat to all the forms of business-as-usual.
“We've had a lot of press here to talk about these issues and that is what our intention is.”
Airport chief says there are no more protesters outside terminal
Robert Sinclair, chief executive of London City Airport, said shortly after 7pm that there were no longer any protesters outside the terminal.
"We continue to work with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that our passengers tonight and tomorrow have a safe and secure service," he said.
"The airport has remained fully operational throughout the day and has run an almost complete schedule of flights, with just two flights cancelled as a result of the protest activity.
"We want to thank all our passengers today for their patience, and the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police for their support and professionalism. If you are flying from London City Airport this evening or tomorrow, please do check the status of your flight with your airline before travelling to the airport."
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