ust Stop Oil activists have been arrested after being plucked from the top of an oil tanker, causing chaos for commuters coming into London on the M4.
It came as Extinction Rebellion accused the Metropolitan Police of carrying out pre-dawn raids on a building associated with Extinction Rebellion arresting others engaged in “non-violent” action across the capital over recent days.
A small group of five eco-warriors caught up to an Eddie Stobart fuel transporter lorry at the Chiswick roundabout about 8.50am on Thursday.
There were reports the group had disabled the truck’s brakes before activists clambered on top and glued themselves in position.
The lorry, which activists described as a “black can of death”, was surrounded by officers who closed surrounding roads.
They were later filmed being plucked off the top of the lorry by specialists on cherry pickers before they were arrested.
Scotland Yard said: “Police have arrested four men and one woman, part of today’s protests, at Chiswick Highroad roundabout, Thursday 14 April.
“The protesters from Just Stop The Oil targeted an oil tanker truck at about 8.53am.
“Four males glued themselves to the top of the vehicle. They were arrested for section 25 of the road traffic act.
“A female protester who sat on the road in front of the vehicle was arrested for unlawful obstruction of the highway.
“All five will be taken into custody at a south London police station.
“The roads reopened at about 11.20am, however there may still be some traffic delays in the local area.”
Meanwhile, Extinction Rebellion said its bases had been raided by Scotland Yard ahead of any further protests planned in the capital.
They said: “In the early hours of this morning Met Police raided and arrested nonviolent protesters who have taken part in the protests this week. This criminal government is trying to outlaw protest, but we will not give up.”
The raids didn’t stop offshoot Animal Rebellion from making a trail from the Home Office HQ with an oil-like substance to the front doors of DEFRA in Westminster.
The group said they arrived at the Home Office and Defra ahead of office-hours and placed prop barrels of oil in front of the entrance with an oil-like substance leaking from them.
Other activists from across the country are being bussed into Hyde Park at 10am ahead of further planned protests.
It comes a day after the Business Secretary insisted the Government will not switch off domestic oil and gas production as climate change activists targeted his department in an act of “civil disobedience”.
Kwasi Kwarteng hit back at a group of scientists in support of Extinction Rebellion for gluing themselves to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on Wednesday.