More than 100 arrested in London climate change protests

More than 100 people were arrested during climate change protests in London this week after blocking bridges and intersections and halting traffic, police said.

Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said Tuesday that officers had arrested 122 people. Five were arrested for alleged criminal damage, and the other 117 were arrested on the Waterloo Bridge.

{mosads}Protesters from the group Extinction Rebellion organized a week of civil disobedience for what it called the British government’s “criminal inaction” in addressing climate change, The Associated Press reported.

The group said in a statement that it will block “five of the city’s busiest and most iconic locations around the clock in a non-violent, peaceful act of rebellion.”

Governments around the world are failing to act on climate breakdown and ecological collapse. Their inaction has us heading for extinction We are in non-violent open rebellion against their inaction. Join us and RebelForLife: https://t.co/PzxBohj9iupic.twitter.com/z8NCLM92vO

— Extinction Rebellion ⌛️ (@ExtinctionR) April 16, 2019 

“We need to ensure we are striking the right balance between allowing the right to a peaceful protest, while ensuring disruption to communities is kept to a minimum,” Wingrove said. “At this time, ongoing demonstrations are causing serious disruptions to public transport, local businesses and Londoners who wish to go about their daily business.”

The AP reported that protesters blocked sites such as the Waterloo Bridge over the River Thames, the Oxford Circus intersection and Parliament Square. Police said demonstrators also vandalized the oil company Shell’s headquarters.

Police ordered the group to restrict their protests to Marble Arch beside Hyde Park after hours of demonstrations; those who chose not to move were arrested.