Hundreds of arrests as London climate-change activists vow more protests
Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
LONDON (Reuters) - London police have made nearly 500 arrests as climate-change protesters, labelled "uncooperative crusties" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, continue two weeks of civil disobedience to push for more to be done to protect the environment.
The Extinction Rebellion group has been taking action in several countries including Britain, Germany, Austria, Australia, France and New Zealand as it lobbies politicians to go further in cutting carbon emissions.
Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
The protests are the latest stage in a global campaign for tougher and swifter steps against climate change coordinated by the group, which rose to prominence in April when it snarled traffic in central London for 11 days.
Police said 152 arrests had been made on Tuesday, taking the total number over the two days to 471 as some protesters lay down in the road outside parliament whilst others dressed in colourful costumes or brought tree saplings to give to lawmakers.
Police have introduced stricter conditions, saying anyone wanting to continue the protest can only do so in Trafalgar Square.
Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
"This action is necessary in order to prevent the demonstrations from causing serious disruption to the community," police said. "Anyone who fails to comply with the condition is liable to arrest and prosecution."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticised the protesters when he attended an event late on Monday.
"I am afraid the security people didn't want me to come along tonight because they said the road was full of uncooperative crusties," he said, using a slang term for eco-protesters.
Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
"They said there was some risk that I would be egged," he added.
On Tuesday, some protesters hit back at him.
"It's not helpful," Diana Jones, from the southern English county of Sussex, told Reuters.
Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
"We’re just ordinary people trying to express our deep disappointment with how slow the process of getting climate change action to occur is taking place, with the government not really listening, not really taking it forward on the scale it needs to be taken."
The group wants Britain to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 rather than the government's 2050 target.
Police officers try to separate Extinction Rebellion protesters during a demonstration at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
(Additional reporting by Henry Nicholls and Ben Makori; writing by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison)
Police officers try to separate Extinction Rebellion protesters during a demonstration at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsExtinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsExtinction Rebellion protesters sit on a road during a demonstration at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsExtinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsPolice officers detain an Extinction Rebellion protester during a demonstration at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsExtinction Rebellion protesters sit on a road during demonstration at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsExtinction Rebellion protesters lie on a road during demonstration at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsExtinction Rebellion protesters lie on a tent as they demonstrate at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPolice officers detain an Extinction Rebellion protester during a demonstration outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPolice officers detain an Extinction Rebellion protester during a demonstration outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPolice officers detain an Extinction Rebellion protester during a demonstration outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonExtinction Rebellion protesters attend a demonstration outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonAn Extinction Rebellion protester holds flowers during a demonstration outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonAn Extinction Rebellion protester is carried away by police outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonA badge which reads "Protester Removal Team" is seen on a man during an Extinction Rebellion protest outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPolice detain an Extinction Rebellion protester outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPolice detain an Extinction Rebellion protester outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPolice detain an Extinction Rebellion protester outside the Home Office in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonExtinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate outside the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonExtinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Whitehall, London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonAn Extinction Rebellion protester holds leaflets during a demonstration at Whitehall, London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonAn Extinction Rebellion protester prepares a sign during a demonstration at Whitehall, London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPolice officers inspect a tent as Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at Whitehall, London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsPolice officers speak with an Extinction Extinction Rebellion protester at Whitehall, London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsAn Extinction Extinction Rebellion protester demonstrates at Whitehall in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsPolice officers speak with an Extinction Extinction Rebellion protester at Whitehall, London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsExtinction Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at St. James's Park in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry NichollsExtinction Extinction Rebellion protesters demonstrate at St. James's Park in London, Britain, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
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