Eco mob's protest foiled in seconds as Met Police swoop in to arrest them

A Just Stop Oil protest ended within seconds of stepping onto the road as police descended on them and made multiple arrests.

Six protesters began the slow march from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square in London at around 12.30pm today, with one of them immediately arrested by the Metropolitan Police.

The remaining five made it to Parliament Square, but were grabbed by police within seconds of entering the road to slow traffic.

A video shared online by the group shows officers surrounding the protesters and giving them warning, before dragging them out the road.

In a post on X that responded to the video, the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers made six arrests during this protest earlier today.

“Five under Section 7 of the Public Order Act and a sixth person was arrested for breaching bail conditions.

“We will continue to respond quickly, to prevent disruption to Londoners.”

Just Stop Oil has labelled the Government “criminal” for not immediately halting all future licences and consents for fossil fuel exploration in the UK.

They say failing to do so “will bring about the wholesale destruction of ordered society and an end to the rule of law.”

Activists were emboldened after the Netherlands committed to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies following 27 days of Extinction Rebellion protesters blocking part of the A12 motorway in the country – with over 9,000 arrests made throughout.

Police standing next to Just Stop Oil protesters

Police dragging a protester off the street

The climate change activist group say there have been 639 arrests of Just Stop Oil supporters since October 30, with nine in prison. Seven of which are awaiting trial.

But they recently mocked police for not being able to charge them at one protest as the green man was showing at a pedestrian crossing, giving them the right to walk across the road.

One supporter wrote: “No charge after Met Police get it wrong again. Unsurprisingly, those arrested at a pedestrian crossing were breaking no laws – not even the new anti-protest ones that Suella Braverman made up.

“Why are the police still arresting protesters? Do they think we’ll just go away?”

The protesters in this case were released without charge.

Among those arrested today was Xandra Gilchrist, 72, a retired social worker, mum and grandma, from Leamington Spa, as well as Margaret Reid, 52, a shop assistant from Kendal.

Ms Reid said politicians will “destroy everything we love”.

She added: “I will not be silenced and I will not be intimidated.”

Recently a UN chief slammed two sentences for Just Stop Oil supporters as “severe” in a letter to the Government.

Two activists who caused traffic gridlock at Dartford Crossing when they scaled the bridge and unfurled a banner must serve a total of five years after judges ruled their stunt had caused a public nuisance.

Morgan Trowland, 40, was sentenced to three years behind bars, and Marcus Decker, 34, was sentenced to two after they used wires to climb the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in October 2022.

The activist group point to a recent study which estimated that the average UK household food bill has increased by over £600 over the last two years as a result of the climate change emergency.

The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment by Express.co.uk.