Insulate Britain: More than 50 arrested as climate protesters block busy London commuter roads
More than 50 people have been arrested after Insulate Britain protesters brought London's financial districts to a standstill.
The group renewed its roadblock campaign around Canary Wharf during rush-hour traffic, with demonstrators gluing their hands to the floor.
Another team also blocked Liverpool Street - one of the busiest commuter areas in London.
Police tried to negotiate, while commuters pleaded with the activists, with one shouting: "We all have jobs to go to", and others physically dragging them out of the road.
In one incident, a man was filmed telling protesters he hoped their family members gotcancer.
Other protesters targeted Upper Thames Street and Bishops Gate, where at least seven buses were held up.
The group, which is an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, says it is protesting to force the government to insulate all UK homes by 2030 to cut carbon emissions.
It posted to its website at 8.30am, coinciding with the start of the demonstrations, with the message: “We won’t stand by while the government kills our kids.”
In a statement, activist Liam Norton branded the government “treasonous”, claiming it had “betrayed” citizens and was leading the country on a path to “genocide”.
“We know that the public is frustrated and annoyed at the disruption we have caused," he added.
“They should know that one way or another this country will have to stop emitting carbon.
"We can do that now in an orderly, planned way, insulating homes and preventing thousands of deaths from fuel poverty, or we can wait until millions have lost their homes and are fighting for water or starving to death.”
Protester Tony Hill, who claimed to be a former police officer, soldier and councillor, said he had travelled from near Kendal in Cumbria to join the protest in Bishopsgate.
The 71-year-old said the group's call to insulate all UK homes is a “no brainer” and that he had travelled far to join the protest out of "anger, fear and determination".
"Everyone says we’re at the 11th hour but we’re at midnight and nothing substantial is being done by our government and governments across the world," he added. “We’ve got the money; all we need is the willpower from our government to do it [insulate homes]. It will save money, create jobs, save lives and save the planet.
"Why aren’t they doing it?”
An Insulate Britain spokesperson had warned on Sunday that there would be "things happening" to target morning rush hour traffic on Monday but did not give further details of what action would be taken.
The climate group, which has caused misery for drivers over the past month by blocking major UK roads in the south-east including the M25 motorway, said the pause to its “campaign of civil resistance” would run out today.
It blocked roads on 14 days over the five weeks to October 14, with activists often gluing their hands to the carriageway to increase the length of time it takes for police to remove them.
Hundreds of arrests were made, with some people detained several times.
Protesters have vowed to continue despite injunctions leaving them facing court summons leading to possible imprisonment or an unlimited fine.