Extinction Rebellion: arrests ahead of fresh protests

Police in London have made ten arrests ahead of a fortnight of fresh disruption by environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion.

Days after police warned they would be more pro-active and assertive in dealings with the group, officers from the Metropolitan police’s territorial support group raided a building in south London, where Extinction Rebellion activists were storing equipment to use in this week’s protests.

The confiscated equipment included portable toilets, kitchen equipment, gazebos, tents, cooking urns, thermos flasks, food, waterproofs, and hot water bottles. Seven women and three men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.

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Richard Ecclestone, a former police officer who has joined the environmental campaign group, said police tactics are “very questionable” and “arguably infringing on our rights to peaceful protest, and indeed our efforts to preserve people’s right to life that is currently being jeopardised by the government”.

Activists are set to descend on Westminster this morning in a bid to “shut down” the heart of government for a fortnight. Extinction Rebellion said its members are planning to blockade “every single road” into the district.

Asked on Sky News whether the protests could disrupt hospitals, activist Savannah Lovelock said that they were “really sorry… but we are running out of time”.

A splinter group called Animal Rebellion is also planning to “occupy” Smithfield market this week. The vegan group hopes to convince people to adopt a plant-based diet.

“We're disrupting the idea that Smithfield must always be a place of death and environmental destruction. Because we know that the animal farming and fishing industries are massive contributors to the climate crisis,” said a spokesman.

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