Twenty-five Just Stop Oil protesters are understood to have been arrested after blocking off The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace in central London.
The activists started sitting in the road at 8.45am on Monday wearing orange high-visibility jackets and holding Just Stop Oil banners, blocking traffic in both directions - with some of them glued together or to the Tarmac.
The disruption lasted for two hours and 15 minutes, with it taking police more than an hour to make an arrest.
At least 40 police officers and 10 police vehicles were sent to the scene.
By 11.05am, the last of the 25 protesters had been removed from the road and taken away in police vans. Officers at the scene said they had all been arrested.
Among those taking part in the demonstration was a 31-year-old woman who said the group had travelled to the capital from Scotland “because the Government is pressing ahead with over 100 new fossil fuel licences”.
“And that is literally a death sentence for all of us here and for all of you,” she said.
“So we can’t allow this to continue. We have to have a cut-off somewhere. We’ve seen the effects already on our doorstep. We’re seeing the effects all over the globe. And this madness has to stop.”
Some of the protesters left the scene of their own volition and were escorted to a police van, while others were physically carried away by police.
Specialist officers used plastic syringes of debonder to remove glue some of the activists had used to join their hands together.
The sit-in was witnessed by hundreds of people who had visited Buckingham Palace to witness the Changing of the Guard on Monday.
It was met with a mixed reaction from passersby. One taxi driver shouted expletives at the group, while a man on a bike voiced his support, saying: “Go on the protesters, you’re doing great work. Stay strong.”
On Twitter, Just Stop Oil said: “This is the moment to come together & resist.
“We are going to stop new oil whether those in power agree or not. We are not asking, we are going to make it happen.
This is the moment to come together & resist — we are not prepared to watch while the Government plans for countless millions to die & destroys everything we love. We are going to stop new oil whether those in power agree or not. We are not asking, we are going to make it happen. pic.twitter.com/osXEC7VmDM
— Just Stop Oil ⚖️💀🛢 (@JustStop_Oil) October 10, 2022
“As citizens, as humans, as parents & children, we have a responsibility and a right to protect ourselves and those we love. Will you step up, will you stand with us this October?”
The roadblock in The Mall is the latest in a string of demonstrations Just Stop Oil is carrying out in London throughout October, in a bid to cause disruption and force the Government into stopping the use of oil and gas.
On Sunday, protesters blocked Piccadilly Circus while Saturday saw them block traffic in Baker Street. The action over the weekend led to 71 people being arrested.
The group is also calling for supporters to meet outside Downing Street at 11am every day this month.
