More than a dozen people were arrested during the Extinction Rebellion protest at the end of the M32 today (Wednesday).
Avon and Somerset police has confirmed that officers arrested 16 people in relation to obstruction of a highway.
The group of about 30 protesters initially stopped traffic in Newfoundland Road but then moved to block the M32 inbound near to Bond Street at about 6:50am.
We are bringing you live updates from the scene of the M32 protest here.
After some of them glued themselves to a pink bath tub on a middle lane section of the road, officers moved in to make arrests, assisted by a specialist protest removal team.
Activists were letting through traffic every seven minutes for two minutes - but there were still major delays for motorists and public transport users.
A police operation to disperse the protesters began in full at around 10:45am.
Officers surrounded the group in the bathtub and began removing those from the area who refused to leave of their own accord.
At the scene of the protest, people were arrested at the circle, taken away, had their rights read to them a few metres away and then were 'de-arrested'.
They were warned if they went back into the circle, they would be arrested properly - now it has been revealed that 16 people did not head police advice.
Speaking earlier today Ch Insp Mark Runacres said that the action taken by some of the protesters this morning had "crossed the line".
Motorists using the M32 have been advised to expect further delays and there could be additional protest activity in other streets around the city centre until Friday.
More on Extinction Rebellion:
- We spoke to the campaigners about why they are occupying Bristol
- Billy Brag's message to Bristol after College Green performance
- This is how businesses have been affected by Extinction Rebellion protests
- 'We'll block the M32 until we get bored' - what protesters have said
- What residents think of the climate change protests
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