70 arrests over Extinction Rebellion protests
Two people climbed Marble Arch
Last updated 17th Apr 2022
SEVENTY people have been arrested at a demonstration by campaign group Extinction Rebellion in central London.
Two people scaled Marble Arch to hang a banner as protests against fossil fuels continued for a seventh day.
A man and a woman climbed up two pillars to hoist a green banner, which was about 10 metres wide and read "End fossil fuels now", shortly before 6pm on Saturday (16th April).
By 9pm last night, the Met Police said 40 people had been arrested. This morning they said it was 70.
The action came after protesters had gathered in Hyde Park earlier in the day and paraded through the capital's streets.
The protesters waved flags, set off orange flares and danced in the street while music played on speakers. Soon afterwards they settled in the road next to Marble Arch.
XR at Marble Arch
Extinction Rebellion blocked Marble Arch junction with a limousine.
XR at Marble Arch
XR at Marble Arch
XR at Marble Arch
XR at Marble Arch
A group of eight activists later locked themselves on to a car in the road, while two glued themselves to the roof.
The woman who scaled the arch spoke to police surrounding her on the ground below. She said: "Are you going to arrest me? There's been no criminal damage.
"I think you should let me go."
Dozens of officers were at the scene.
Shortly after 6.30pm, the Metropolitan Police said the force had imposed a Section 14(1) public order on the group to clear the road by 6pm.
It covered from Marble Arch gyratory, encompassing Park Lane, Oxford Street, Tyburn Way, Edgware Road, Bayswater Road and Cumberland Gate.
Earlier on Saturday, six people were arrested after activists climbed on to a Shell oil tanker in Bayswater Road, yards away from Marble Arch.
Images from the scene show people gathered around the tanker, some holding Extinction Rebellion flags, while one man had a sign which read: "End fossil fuels now."
A spokesperson for Shell said the company agrees that society "needs to take urgent action" on climate change. "Shell has a clear target to become a net-zero emissions business by 2050, in step with society," they added.