Extinction Rebellion promise not to disrupt London Marathon

Extinction Rebellion has vowed to protect the London Marathon from disorder

45 000 runners are competing in the event this weekend and the climate group says it has given assurances to the director that it has no plans to disrupt it.

London Marathon Director Hugh Brasher says he is now hoping for the same assurances from Just Stop Oil who disrupted the World Snooker Championship on Monday by covering a table in orange powder.

"I've come from a meeting with Extinction Rebellion, they will be uniquely asking all their participants to help guard the London Marathon," he said. "To do something which is unique in their history, to protect what is one of the crown jewels of British sport.

"We have been talking to Extinction Rebellion for months. They have been very clear they are in a new phase of wanting to engage the general public in a different way.

"It was not Extinction Rebellion at the snooker, it was Just Stop Oil. I'm having conversations with Just Stop Oil, I hope in those conversations they will be giving the same assurances.

"We do mitigate for disruption and have done for years. There are numerous mitigations we put in, we do that working with the police, the Royal Parks, Westminster, the Mayor.

"I won't say what they are. We don't say what we are doing, but we have a raft of additional mitigation measures we are putting in to this year's event.

"I trust Extinction Rebellion, they have been very clear of what they are doing and why. I hope Just Stop Oil and the other organisations listen to what we are saying.

"The London Marathon is unique, we run for clean air, that is so important in what we do.

"We've not traded anything off, all we are doing is having conversations and asking if we can work together. So far everyone has been incredibly positive in that manner.

"I will be asking them to help and protect the marathon because of the good it does in society."

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