Climate Change protesters block five major bridges and bring London to a standstill with at least 85 arrested
The activists were trying to urge Theresa May to tackle global warming while they staged a sit-in along the River Thames
PROTESTERS blocked five major bridges and brought London to a standstill yesterday.
Hundreds of activists urged Theresa May to tackle global warming while they staged a sit-in along the River Thames.
At least 85 were arrested as police struggled to clear Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster and Lambeth bridges.
The rally, which continued outside Parliament last night, caused major traffic jams and blocked routes for emergency vehicles.
It followed a week of “Extinction Rebellion” events which saw people block roads and glue themselves to government buildings.
More than 50 people were arrested earlier this week during protests near Downing Street and Westminster’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Gail Bradbrook, one of the organisers, said: “We could easily be facing starvation in the UK if the weather effect continues as it is.”
Questions will be raised over The Met’s handling of the demonstrations, which were widely advertised on social media.
A source said: “Police chiefs will be furious at how this was handled and the disruption that it caused. They will no doubt want to know exactly what went wrong.”
The Met said all the bridges were reopened by 4.20pm.
A spokesperson added: “The number of arrests as a result of today’s demonstration stands at 85 – predominantly obstruction of the Highway Act, some Bail Act offences and others.”