London climate-change street protest arrests reach 290 on second day

Performers demonstrate at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - Police have arrested 290 people in two days of protests after climate-change activists blocked some of London's most important junctions including Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, causing traffic chaos.

The protests, led by British climate group Extinction Rebellion, brought parts of central London to a standstill again on Tuesday.

Extinction Rebellion, which generated headlines with a semi-nude protest in the House of Commons earlier this month, is demanding the government reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

Performers demonstrate at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Police said they expected the demonstrations to continue in coming weeks and had to strike the right balance between allowing the right to peaceful protest while ensuring disruption was kept at a minimum.

"At this time, ongoing demonstrations are causing serious disruptions to public transport, local businesses and Londoners who wish to go about their daily business," Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said on Tuesday.

Activists had been told they must confine any demonstrations to the Marble Arch area, and police were taking action against protesters in other locations.

Performers arrive at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

More than a dozen activists had been arrested at Waterloo Bridge near parliament by lunchtime on Tuesday.

Others were sitting in the road with linked arms, chanting at the police "Rebellion! Rebellion!" and "We are peaceful! What about you?"

Five arrests were for criminal damage after the Royal Dutch Shell building near the River Thames was targeted on Monday.

A climate change activist holds a placard at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Two protesters on Monday climbed up scaffolding, writing "Shell Knows!" in red paint on the front of the building and three protesters glued their hands to revolving doors at the entrance.

Tents littered the prime shopping area of Oxford Circus on Tuesday morning, with some activists huddled beneath a model boat with the words "Tell the Truth" across its side. One placard read: "Rebel for Life".

Activist Katy Fowler, 39, from Machynlleth in Wales, said reaction from the public had been very positive.

Climate change activists block the centre of Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

"People have come up to us to thank us emphatically," she said. "There is an awareness and a hunger for something to be done."

(Reporting by Paul Sandle, Hannah Mckay and Andrew Marshall and Elisabeth O'Leary; Additional reporting by Bhanu Pratap in Bengaluru; writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison and Tom Brown)

A climate change activist walks along Waterloo Bridge during a blockage during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

A police officer approaches a climate change activist at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

A climate change activist walks along Waterloo Bridge during a blockage during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Climate change activists arrive at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Climate change activists block Westminster Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

A girl draws on the street of Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Protesters sit on Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Police officers detain a climate change activist at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Police officers detain a climate change activist at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Climate change activists sit in a boat on the River Thames during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

A climate change activist walks across Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Climate change activists block a road during the Extinction Rebellion protest at Parliament Square in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Climate change activists rest during a Extinction Rebellion protest at Oxford Circus in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Climate change activists rest during a Extinction Rebellion protest at Oxford Circus in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Signs are seen near climate change activists resting during a Extinction Rebellion protest at Oxford Circus in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

A climate change activist walks between tents during a Extinction Rebellion protest at Marble Arch in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Climate change activists sit on the road during a Extinction Rebellion protest at Marble Arch in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

A man sits in front of the tents of climate change activists during a Extinction Rebellion protest at Marble Arch in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Climate change activists demonstrate during a Extinction Rebellion protest at Oxford Circus in London, Britain April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay