Extinction Rebellion mock Met Police with Benny Hill-style video of them evading officers as they blockade Tower Bridge but officers hit back by arresting 11
Extinction Rebellion mocked the Met Police by posting a Benny Hill-style video of activists evading officers as they blockaded Tower Bridge today as the force confirmed that 11 people had been arrested on the latest day of chaos in the capital.
The protest group boasted about 'giving the runaround' after they blocked the iconic landmark with a van and caravan, causing yet more disruption for Londoners.
Speeded-up footage shows police grappling with scruffy members of the rag-tag protest as they run across the road with chains attached to their arms while frustrated drivers queue up waiting to cross.
Underneath XR's Twitter post, the Met hit back with a confused face emoji, insisting officers 'immediately took action' to deal with the mob.
The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that 11 people were arrested on Monday as part of the Extinction Rebellion protests.
The arrests follow the 34 people who were held over protests yesterday as part of the climate activist group's 'Impossible Rebellion', which began last Monday.
![XR today boasted about 'giving [police] the runaround' after they blocked Tower Bridge with a van and caravan, causing yet more disruption for Londoners](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/30/15/47285847-9940153-image-a-40_1630335185454.jpg)
XR today boasted about 'giving the runaround' after they blocked Tower Bridge with a van and caravan, causing yet more disruption for Londoners
Speeded-up footage released by the group shows police grappling with scruffy members of the rag-tag protest running across the road with chains attached to their arms as frustrated drivers queue up waiting to cross
Officers haul an activist from the road after XR tried to use chains to block Tower Bridge, one of London's most iconic landmarks
Topless vegan politics student and XR activist Laura Amherst stands in front of a line of police officers at Tower Bridge today
Underneath the Twitter post, the Met hit back with a confused face emoji, insisting officers 'immediately took action' to deal with the mob
Dozens of Met officers formed a cordon around a caravan that Extinction Rebellion activists used to block Tower Bridge today
Protesters could be seen attached together on the top of a caravan under one of Tower Bridge's famous arches
An XR activist being hauled away by three officers on Tower Hill, just yards away from Tower Bridge, during this afternoon's protest
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Extinction Rebellion activists dressed in floral aprons and dresses and pushing a tea tray stand on Tower Bridge today
Extinction Rebellion is currently targeting London as part of its two-week campaign of action, causing widespread disruption for businesses and commuters
Activists also lay down on the junction north of Tower Bridge and attached themselves to a blue van, causing further disruption
The fifth wave of mass disruption by the group is expected to last for the entirety of this week and is geared towards demanding the UK Government divests from fossil fuels.
Earlier today, activists were also spotted lying on the ground at a junction north of the bridge as part of a protest against government investment in fossil fuels.
The protest - attended by topless vegan activist Laura Amherst - is part of XR's fifth wave of disruptive mass demonstrations on environmental issues.
In recent days XR activists have managed to shut down Oxford Circus with a giant pink table before drumming and dancing for hours as police watched on, and closed off the main road outside the Science Museum.
Meanwhile, an affiliated group of animal rights activists smeared blood on the Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace as part of their stated aim of achieving a 'plant-based food system'.
Demonstrators were seen at the end of the famous bridge in Southwark wearing aprons emblazoned with Tell The Truth and with teapots with Deniabilitea written on them.
Activists also staged an overnight protest at the Science Museum in London due to the tourist hotspot's partnership with oil giant Shell on an exhibition called Our Future Planet.
The Met Police said on Twitter: 'Officers were on scene almost immediately.
'We are working with @CityPolice to get traffic moving again. Activists are also laying on the junction north of Tower Bridge, this is causing further disruption.'
Protesters holding banners reading 'climate emergency' walked across London Bridge this afternoon, while another group blocked Tower Bridge
Thousands of Extinction Rebellion protesters gathering at Tower Hill during a series of marches today across central London
Large numbers of police officers accompanied one of the groups of activists as they crossed London Bridge today
According to the police service, 34 arrests were made yesterday during the policing of Extinction Rebellion demonstrations which are expected to continue for the remainder of this week.
Protesters were seen to be removed by the police prior to the blocking of the bridge with a large police presence on the scene of the occupation.
Extinction Rebellion's latest action, dubbed the Impossible Rebellion is into its second week after it commenced on Monday August 23.
The campaign is being masterminded by Dr Gail Bradbrook, 49, a diesel car-driving serial campaigner from the leafy Cotswolds town of Stroud.
The Met Police have been struggling to stop mobs of the protesters bringing chaos to central London during two weeks of action
Willow-Rose Mitchell, 3, and her mother, Emma Mitchell sit on the ground with a placard, as they attend an Extinction Rebellion protest in London Bridge
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters from XR offshoot Animal Rebellion gathered at Smithfield Market in Farringdon where they held an anti-meat rally.
About 500 protesters, who included members of the groups Defend Direct Action-Animal Offensive and Camp Beagle, as well as members of a second Extinction Rebellion offshoot, Ocean Rebellion, held up banners and signs saying 'Unite for Animal Justice', 'Free the MBR Beagles' and 'Meat is Murder'.
The campaigners stopped traffic and were escorted by hundreds of Met Police and City of London police officers.
They played drums and blew whistles, stopping at one point outside Blackfriars station.
The protest is about about two miles long and will include stops at different businesses in the City.
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XR activists holding signs saying 'spilled by fossil fuels'... 'the blood of our children' as they walk towards London Bridge
Police and members of Extinction Rebellion at Tower Hill during their march in central London this afternoon
Crowds of activists massing near London Bridge today. One of the signs reads 'No Cambo oil field', referring to a new proposed site in Scotland