The gloves finally come off! Police storm Extinction Rebellion bus blocking London Bridge and haul eco-protesters off as they complain of heavy-handed tactics after group were condemned for occupying HQ of conservation charity WWF
The Met Police were accused of being 'heavy-handed' after finally clearing an Extinction Rebellion protest that saw demonstrators glue themselves to a bus that was blocking London Bridge.
In video footage shared online, officers can be seen grappling with protesters before forcibly moving them from an open-top vintage bus with a wooden structure attached to the rear.
The southern end of the London Bridge was taken over by XR activists, who blocked the road with a bus on Tuesday.
This followed a similar demonstration on Tower Bridge and sat on top of a parked caravan on Monday as the environmental activists continue their fortnight of action.
The Metropolitan Police said that as of 6.45pm on Tuesday, 43 further arrests had been made in connection with the protests, taking the total number to 469.
The force said the arrests were made for a variety of offences.
Police remove a demonstrator from a bus parked on London Bridge in central London
A demonstrator is arrested as Extinction Rebellion protesters use a bus to block London Bridge
Officers surrounded the bus on London Bridge and were seen using batons and dragging protesters off the vehicle.
Other demonstrators were handcuffed and police blocked several nearby streets to stop people entering the area.
Footage showed scores of Met officers pushing back activists, who continued to advance, banging drums and clapping, while others glued themselves to pavements.
Earlier, more arrived at London Bridge station waving banners and placards, with slogans including 'stop the harm' and 'please don't arrest me, I'm on call tomorrow'.
Pedestrians coming from the station were diverted away from the protest by approximately 20 officers and police vans on one road alone.
An officer confirmed some people taking part in the protest were being arrested, and the road closures would be in place 'for hours'.
A demonstrator is removed by officers from a bus during an Extinction Rebellion protest
Police remove a man from a bus on London Bridge during a protest by Extinction Rebellion
The Met later defended the use of force by its officers saying the use of force was 'reasonable and proportionate'.
The force tweeted: 'There have been some questions today on our use of force while attempting to disrupt the protest involving Extinction Rebellion's bus.
'It is very clear that the demo near London Bridge was an attempt to cause a major disruption to one of London's busiest bridges.
'Seeing this, officers nearby took immediate action to prevent any unreasonable disruption to the highway, and to detain those attempting to cause disruption or who were obstructing officers in the lawful execution of their duty.
'We believe this swift action prevented some protesters from setting up further complex lock-on devices which were inside the bus.
'Given the circumstances and likely disruption to the community, our initial assessment is that their use of force was reasonable and proportionate.'
Among those taking part in the protest was Olympic medallist Etienne Stott, who was filmed sitting in the middle of the road speaking to police.
The slalom canoer, who took gold at the 2012 London games, refused to move and was eventually picked up and carried off by officers, shouting 'this is important'.
Extinction Rebellion London tweeted: 'We will leave the streets when the Government starts treating the climate emergency like an emergency.
'Covid showed what the Government can do in a crisis, it's the level of response required for the climate but sustained over years. £ExtinctionRebellion'.
Eleven demonstrators were arrested during the Tower Bridge protest on Monday.
A demonstrator is arrested as Extinction Rebellion protesters use a bus to block London Bridge
Met Police officers first surround, then grapple with demonstrators inside the bus
Officers were accused of 'heavy-handed tactics' as they stormed the XR bus on Tuesday
XR activists used a vintage open-top bus, with the sign 'Extinction' to block London Bridge
It comes after the eco-activists were today accused of jumping the shark - after targeting the headquarters of beloved wildlife preservation and environment cause the WWF.
They hit the HQ in Woking at 9.30am under the explanation of it being in solidarity with indigenous groups in Tanzania, Cameroon and Kenya.
An XR spokesman claimed the groups were being evicted and persecuted by WWF's conservation activities.
But the stunt was greeted by utter bemusement by most members of the public.
And MP Alexander Stafford said: 'They've completely jumped the shark.
'By attacking those that work to protect the environment, halt our natural decline, & stop climate change, they have revealed their own nihilistic hand.
'Groups like WWF have done far more and will do more for our planet than these extremists.'
The phrase 'jumping the shark' refers to when someone does something far-fetched to try and maintain interest.
Extinction Rebellion activists hit the WWF HQ in Woking this morning under the explanation of it being in solidarity with indigenous groups in Tanzania, Cameroon and Kenya
Disbelief as XR targeted wildlife and environment preservation cause the WWF this moring
Claimed the occupation was in solidarity with indigenous groups in Tanzania and Cameroon
The stunt was condemned and slated as 'jumping the shark' due to the choice of target
Earlier protesters, from offshoot Animal Rebellion, wanted dairy company Arla to transition to plant-based production by 2025 and claim they will not leave the firm's site in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, until it agrees to do so.
It claims Arla emitted more greenhouse gases in 2017 than BHP, a mining company, and ConocoPhillips, an oil producer.
James Ozden, a spokesperson for Animal Rebellion, said: 'The dairy industry abuses animals, the planet and workers, who are increasingly squeezed by big business.
'Arla say they're pro-worker but lobby for supermarket contracts that sell milk for less than water.
'We're not just demanding that Arla go plant-based by 2025, we're demanding that the Government supports companies like Arla by funding a just transition for workers in meat and dairy industries to just and sustainable alternatives.'
The group said a climate crisis could lead to unstable crop supplies to feed dairy cows and also potentially expose them to heat stress for two months longer than usual, which could lead to a milk shortage.
Bamboo-zled: The bamboo structure has thwarted efforts to go in or out of the site
The protesters arrived under the cover of darkness to set up their dairy demonstration
At London Bridge, Metropolitan Police officers eventually surrounded the vehicle atop the bridge and several streets to stop people entering the area.
The force tweeted: 'Officers are responding to a demonstration in #LondonBridge where protesters have assembled and are blocking the road.
'We are currently assessing the situation working to keep disruption in the area to a minimum.'
Pedestrians coming from London Bridge Underground station were diverted away from the protest by approximately 20 officers and police vans on one road alone.
An officer confirmed some people taking part in the protest were being arrested, and the road closures would be in place 'for hours'.
Extinction Rebellion London tweeted: 'We will leave the streets when the Government starts treating the climate emergency like an emergency.
Police officers surround a vehicle, parked across the road as climate activists strike London
A protester shows a glued palm against a window, as police officers surround a vehicle
Police and demonstrators with a bus parked on London Bridge in central London today
'Covid showed what the Government can do in a crisis, it's the level of response required for the climate but sustained over years. #ExtinctionRebellion'.
Eleven demonstrators were arrested on Monday, when protesters occupied Tower Bridge.
More than 300 arrests have been made during the first week of Extinction Rebellion's fifth wave of mass protests in London.
Some 11 activists were arrested during action on Bank Holiday Monday, which saw protesters block Tower Bridge with a van and caravan.
It follows 34 arrests on Sunday when demonstrators occupied the Science Museum in protest against its partnership with oil giant Shell.
The Metropolitan Police said there had been a total of 367 arrests in the capital since the environmentalist group began its latest round of action, dubbed the Impossible Rebellion, on August 23.
The group is demanding the Government stops investment in fossil fuels.
As part of the protests, activists have blocked a road in central London with a large pink table containing built-in lock-ons, spray painted the floor outside the HM Revenue & Customs headquarters and daubed the famous Guildhall in the City of London in red paint.
Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, dyed the Buckingham Palace fountains red in protest at animal hunting.
Activists were lying on the ground, while others wore aprons emblazoned with Tell The Truth
Protesters display a banner message as climate activists from the Extinction Rebellion group
Today's central London protest featured a bus, which protesters had glued themselves to
On Monday, activists were seen lying on the ground near Tower Bridge, while others wore aprons emblazoned with Tell The Truth and with teapots with Deniabilitea written on them.
Protesters were seen to be removed by officers prior to the blocking of the bridge.
The Metropolitan Police said demonstrators had used 'complex' lock-ons 'to frustrate our removal efforts', and specialist removal teams were drafted in.
The force said on Twitter: 'We see many comments and questions asking why this work can't be quicker and use more direct tactics.
'While we understand the public's frustration, we must consider the safety of everyone involved – including our officers.
'This work is painstaking but we work as quick as we can.'
Extinction Rebellion is due to continue its action for a second week.