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Police hold truck drivers back as they try to move eco-warriors glued to M25 before cops finally move in
COPS had to hold back tortured truck drivers this afternoon as they tried to move eco-warriors who glued themselves to the M25.
Tensions boiled over on the country's busiest motorway after some 89 activists from Insulate Britain brought traffic to a standstill - before police finally arrested 71 protestors.
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Furious motorists got out of their vehicles and attempted to move the picketers but were restrained by police.
The environmentalist group have been accused of "alienating" Brits with their stunts instead of earning their support as they blocked commuters.
One mob blocked Junction 23 at South Mimms, Hertfordshire, while another shut down the main carriageway from Junction 8 at Reigate to Junction 9 at Leatherhead, both in Surrey.
Some people have even glued their hands to the road in the Dartford Crossing area at Junction 1A and 1B.
The climate change group, dressed in hi-vis and brandishing banners reading 'please turn off your engine', plonked themselves in the middle of the road in both locations.
Protesters also held signs saying 'sorry for the disruption' as angry drivers quickly lost patience.
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Some stuck motorists yelled "we'll lose our jobs" and honked their horns but the demonstrators refused to budge.
Others shouted: "Go and find something better to do with your lives."
One lone police officer eventually turned up but made a feeble attempt to move the activists on - who were breaking the law and the Highway Code.
The cop, with his hands in his pockets, simply said: "I’m going to have to ask you to move."
He didn't even look at the group as he made his weak order before strolling back to his car.
Do you recognise any of the protesters? Email [email protected] or call call 0207 782 4368
Insulate Britain reps are demanding the Government "make significant legislative change to start lowering emissions" and said they will continue to invade the roads until they do so.
A spokesperson added they were taking action again today to get Britain's homes insulated and create thousands of jobs and save lives.
Among those held up shortly after 8am was an NHS worker trying to get home after a night shift.
Jay told LBC: "I'm exhausted. I'm not happy with the situation."
Pharmacist Graham Weidle, who is not able to get to work, said: "I need to open a pharmacy in Soho.
"We all support climate change, we all support sustainability and we all support a more regenerative way of life. But this doesn't help."
'THIS DOESN'T HELP'
And one man said on Twitter that his nurse wife was trying to get her elderly mother to an urgent hospital appointment but was being held up by "these muppets".
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Insulate Britain said: "You're angry. So are we. You're afraid for your job. So are we. You feel powerless. So did we.
"But sitting in the road makes Boris Johnson sit up and take notice. So we're staying, until 10 Downing Street get on with the job."
They added: "The people in cars are angry, they are outraged, they are disgusted. Rightly.
"What a thing to do. What stupidity. What idiots. So why are we doing it?
"Because we are angry, because we are outraged, because we feel disgust beyond words.
"Because we will not stand by and see our families suffer, their livelihoods destroyed and our country betrayed. Never. Never."
This action is not only incredibly dangerous in potentially putting lives at risk but it also backfires in environmental terms by causing more delays and more vehicle emissions.
Edmund King
Swarms of cops finally made it to the scene, with Surrey Police arresting a total of 32 people in connection with the incident between Junction 8 and 10.
They were whisked off on suspicion of various offences, including public nuisance, obstructing the highway and conspiracy to cause danger to road users.
Hertfordshire Police arrested 18 people who had glued themselves to the motorway, while the force in Kent made 21 arrests for obstructing the highway.
All involved showed blatant disregard of the Highway Code which states pedestrians must not be on motorways or slip roads except in an emergency.
FOUR-CAR SMASH
Officers said they were also attending the scene of a serious four-vehicle crash - but it is unclear if this is related to the protests.
Police and paramedics raced to the horror smash at Junction 9 to Leatherhead, Surrey, shortly after 9am before a woman was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition.
It follows Monday's disruption which saw more than 90 Insulate Britain members arrested.
The madness caused up to five hours of delays for tens of thousands of drivers on the M25 - and things turned sour when furious motorists tried to drag resistant protesters away to clear the roads.
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AA president Edmund King said: "This action is not only incredibly dangerous in potentially putting lives at risk but it also backfires in environmental terms by causing more delays and more vehicle emissions.
"These are some of the busiest sections of the M25 where tens of thousands of drivers will have been affected and has a negative knock-on effect on economic activity."
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Travel chaos as Extinction Rebellion protesters BLOCK M25 and clash with drivers
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