Police forces have arrested multiple activists after Just Stop Oil protests caused chaos over England’s busiest motorway.
Demonstrators have been cropping up across M25 sections in London, Essex, Surrey and Kent this morning (November 7) as the latest Cop27 international climate change talks in Egypt gets under way.
Essex Police said that three people have been arrested after being called to two incidents on the M25.
Two people – a man and a woman – were arrested at junction 30 at 7.30am this morning after two people attempted to climb a gantry.
Police said that disruption was kept to a minimum as neither were able to climb onto the structure.
The suspects are now in custody being questioned on suspicion of road traffic offences.
Another arrest has been made after a third person locked himself onto a gantry at junction 27.
There are currently no other reported demonstrations at the Essex stretch of the M25.
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The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested people on Sunday evening and Monday morning as it launched an operation to identify and arrest climate change protesters suspected of planning “reckless and serious” motorway disruption.
A protester has climbed onto a motorway gantry at Junction 25 on the M25.
— Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) November 7, 2022
The road has been temporarily closed at this location (anticlockwise).
Specially trained officers from our protest removal team are on their way manage the scene.
A specific number of arrests made this morning has not been confirmed at this time.
Surrey Police tweeted that they had reports there were protesters at a number of places along the motorway, resulting in some temporary lane closures.
The force said they would “get this resolved as soon as possible”.
UPDATE 11.35am
— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) November 7, 2022
A fifth protester, this time between junctions 14 and 13, has now been removed from a gantry. He refused to comply or move, but officers were still able to get him down quickly. He has now been arrested and traffic will be released shortly. pic.twitter.com/QKvuFkVQAb
Hertfordshire Police said five people had been arrested after protesters attempted to climb overhead gantries at various junctions.
Just Stop Oil has vowed to continue its action, saying it will demonstrate “every day” until the group’s demand for no new oil and gas in the UK is met.
In an update on its website, the group said: “This is not a one-day event, expect us every day and anywhere. This is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project.
“Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.”
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