Extinction Rebellion protesters were dragged from the top of trains and attacked by angry commuters as they targeted London’s tube network this morning.
Dozens of commuters were seen pulling at two campaigners who climbed to the top of a tube train at Canning Town station with a ladder before they unfurled a banner reading “Business as usual = death”. Bystanders then began to kick one of the activists they managed to drag to the floor.
Meanwhile, another group of activists glued themselves to a DLR train at Shadwell while commuters shouted “We’re on an electric train”. The Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway were earlier partially shut down after the protests at Stratford, Canning Town and Shadwell stations during the rush hour.
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It comes as Extinction Rebellion’s bid to defy the blanket protest ban on its protests across the whole of London will come before the High Court later today.
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Extinction Rebellion activist ‘attacked by mob on Tube’
An Extinction Rebellion activist has captured on video the moment an angry mob of commuters turned on him as protesters targeted the Tube network this morning, Jon Sharman reports.
The young man insisted he was a journalist when confronted by furious workers unable to travel, adding ‘it’s freedom of speech’.
Read more here:
Arrests rise to 8
British Transport Police has confirmed it arrested eight people on this morning in connection with Extinction Rebellion’s tube protests.
Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan said: “Despite our countless warnings, we are frustrated that Extinction Rebellion put people at risk to obstruct services on London’s rail network.
“Those who obstructed services are in custody and will be dealt with robustly. This type of action is completely at odds with what Extinction Rebellion are campaigning for and we will continue to urge them to not target any rail network.”
Each person detained was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the railway. They have each been taken to police custody as enquiries continue.
More than 85 per cent of Extinction Rebellion activists voted against protest
Splits appear to be emerging in Extinction Rebellion over the Tube protests this morning,
A poll on the group’s Telegram chat showed 86 per cent of members were against action targeting the London Underground. Just per cent approved of the action, while 7 per cent approved if they could be sure trains wouldn’t get blocked underground.
There were also disagreements on the Extinction Rebellion London Group on Facebook.
One member of the group said: “I mean this with every respect to those involved but I can’t see how the action taken this morning has caused anything other than violence and enemies… Disruption not destruction.”
Another Facebook user in the group said: “Whilst I have my reservations about the decision to disrupt public transport today, I can understand why that decision was made.”
Green MEP says Extinction Rebellion protesters ‘got is so wrong’
Green MEP Alexandra Philips has condemned Extinction Rebellion’s Tube protests, saying the group “got is so wrong”.
It comes after the Green Party co-leader Jonathan Barley was arrested yesterday at an Extinction Rebellion protest.
Extinction Rebellion co-founder says Tube protests are ‘non-violent’ and make activists ‘vulnerable’
Extinction Rebellion co-founder Clare Farrell has defended the Tube action, saying “the public, I don’t think, realise quite how serious this situation is”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she added: “It is still peaceful, and it is still non-violent.
“It makes them vulnerable, and that’s what people are there to do when they put their body on the line.”
Footage shows Extinction Rebellion protester dragged from Tube train and attacked by commuters
Footage has emerged of commuters dragged an Extinction Rebellion protester from the roof of a Tube train and attacking them, Samuel Osborne reports.
In a clip posted on Twitter, one of the activists can be seen standing on top of the carriage at Canning Town station in London before being pulled from the train by his foot. He ends up on the ground, surrounded by train users who appear to punch and kick him.
Read more here:
Extinction Rebellion say ‘tactical decisions are taken by small groups’ in response to criticism
In repose to the tube protests, Extinction Rebellion has insisted that it is a decentralised organisation and that tactical decisions about its actions are made by small groups.
It comes after a number of spokespeople from the group criticised the tube protests, with one claiming it was “massive own goal”.
Activists protest outside Supreme Court
While Extinction Rebellion has said no more tube protests are planned for today, the group is still continuing its demonstration in defiance of a London-wide police ban.
Several protesters are currently demonstrating outside the Supreme Court to demand it recognises the crime of ecocide.
James O’Brien: ‘Would they rather we all drove?’
LBC presenter Jame O’Brien has describes the protesters as the “lunatic fringe of Extinction Rebellion”, before asking “Would they rather we all drove?”
Extinction Rebellion says no further tube protests planned today
An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson told The Independent that no further protests on the London Underground will take place today.
However, they said the group’s planned actions at Gatwick airport would go ahead this morning, but that they would not be disruptive.
Transport union condemns protests
A spokesman for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: “RMT condemns any activity that compromises staff and passenger safety on London Underground.
”It is RMT members who have been caught in the middle of these grossly irresponsible actions.
“We call on Extinction Rebellion to call off their protests targeting the Tube network, which are putting RMT members in a dangerous and violent situation.”
Jubilee line now cleared
The Jubilee line has now been cleared after protesters disrupted the service this morning, TFL said.
Three protesters glued on to arms manufacturer in Westminster
Meanwhile, three activists have glued and chained themselves to the building of an arms manufacturer in Westminster, the group said.
77-year-old reverend among those arrested
Reverend Sue Parfitt, 77, was one of the protesters arrested this morning after she climbed a DLR train at Shadwell.
David Lammy: ‘Are you going to disrupt cyclists next?’
Labour MP David Lammy is among those who have criticised Extinction Rebellion’s protests this morning, urging the group to “take a leaf out of the Gandhi and Martin Luther King book of peaceful protest.
Extinction Rebellion spokesperson says tube protests are ‘huge own goal’
It’s not just commuters who are disgruntled by the tube protests this morning, some members of Extinction Rebellion have spoken out against the demonstrations.
Fergal McEntee, a spokesperson for the group, told LBC that this morning’s demonstrations were a “huge own goal.”
83-year-old protester says he is glued on to train ‘for my granchildren’
One 83-year-old protester said he had glued himself to a DLR train for his grandchildren.
Veteran Extinction Rebellion activist Phil Kingston, added: “What we’re heading towards at the moment is an increase in temperature of 3C, now that is suffering and death on an enormous scale.
“I’m just here to ring an alarm bell.”
‘If this is what it takes to make them take notice before it is too late, then this is what we must do’
A spokesperson for the protesters said that the action was necessary to make people notice the climate crisis “before it’s too late”.
Robin Boardman, 21, said: “We have known since at least the 1980’s that we need to change our ways or risk a climate and ecological disaster but still our Government is intent upon making matters worse. It pains me to read the reports that they knew this would happen before I was even born.
“If this is what it takes to make them take notice before it is too late, then this is what we must do. None of us want to inconvenience ordinary people. That’s why we’re doing this in the morning when it will impact business as usual, and not in the evening, when people want to get home to be with their loved ones.”
British Transport Police increases patrols on London Underground
The British Transport Police said it has increased patrols on the London Underground and other rail hubs in response to the protest.
A statement read: “Shortly after 7am this morning (17/10) British Transport Police were called to simultaneous action by Extinction Rebellion at Stratford, Canning Town and Shadwell. Protesters had dangerously obstructed Jubilee Line and DLR services by either climbing on top of services or by gluing themselves to the trains.
“Four arrests have been made in connection to the Stratford and Canning Town incidents, with those detained being taken to police custody. Specialist Protest Removal Teams remain at Shadwell station, and are working to resume services as soon as possible.
“We continue to urge protesters to not target the London Underground network. This is dangerous, not only for protesters but for commuters. We have increased our patrols on the London Underground and at other rail hubs throughout London.”
TFL urges commuters ‘not to resort to violence’
TFL has urged commuters “not to resort to violence” in response to the protests on its Metropolitan Line Twitter account.
