The group staged a series of demonstrations this week demanding an end to fossil fuels. On Friday afternoon, activists staged a series of sit-ins on the bridges, cutting off some of the capital’s main thoroughfares. For a time the Blackfriars Bridge was held by an unmarried 76-year-old woman who was on the road and refused to move. Lucy Harding, from Reading, said she first learned about climate change from her adopted son in 1976. “It’s been a long time since we knew we were in danger and it was really scary to see it get closer and closer, seeing a tipping point after a rollover,” Harding said. “It’s awful to be 76, to see the end of my life coming and to know what is left behind.” About two dozen police officers from the City of London police surrounded Harding, who said she was determined to arrest him. However, her blockade ended voluntarily after the police refused to pick her up and threatened to call an ambulance to remove her. In a statement, XR said: “We call for an immediate end to new investment in fossil fuels as part of the uprising and the ongoing actions of Just Stop Oil continue.” Police said they are at the scene and working to manage the collision. Elsewhere, several oil companies have taken political action to stop climate protesters, with dozens of protesters being blamed for launching synchronized actions against three key gas stations early Friday morning. Energy Secretary Greg Hunts said: “While we value the right to peaceful protest, it is vital that they do not disrupt people’s daily lives. “I am pleased to see oil companies taking action to secure security at their facilities, working with local police to apprehend those who break the law and ensure that fuel deliveries continue as normal.” Activists were arrested at the Kingsbury terminal near Tamworth, Staffordshire, and the Inter terminal in Grays and the Navigator terminal in West Thurrock, which run on the banks of the Thames and supply gas stations in east and south London. Warwickshire police said: “Officers remain at the Kingsbury terminal today and are currently protesting after several protesters arrived overnight. “At the moment there is little impact on the wider community.” Meanwhile, a scientist arrested for taking part in an Extinction Rebellion operation in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is on a hunger and thirst strike after being held by police for more than 40 hours. Emma Smart, 44, a marine biologist who has previously worked with Insulate Britain, has had nothing to eat or drink since Thursday morning, according to her husband, Andy Smith. Smart was one of nine scientists arrested at BEIS on Wednesday and photographed on the front page of the Guardian the next day. But while the others were released, he was being held in a cell at the Charing Cross police station until he was arraigned on Saturday morning. Emma Smart was one of several protesters arrested outside the BEIS in London on Wednesday. He is still being held by the police. Photo: Stefan Rousseau / PA Her hunger strike was a sign of protest against the conditions in which she was being held, Smith said. She was kept in a cell without windows, without a suitable bed and with the lights on 24 hours a day. In a message to the Guardian from her cell, transmitted by Smith, Smart said: “How can I be the one prosecuted here for criminal damage with BEIS still issuing new fossil fuel licenses that will cause damage to the environment and future generations? “ On Friday, Smith was with scientists and doctors at an XR rally outside the Charing Cross police station. Jeff Waage, a professor of international development at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, held a placard outside the police station that read: “Science says new oil and gas = death.” He said: “The arrests of scientists, which prevent them from speaking, are wrong and prevent us from reaching the public with important scientific messages coming from international research.” Scientists gather for XR member detained by police after climate protest – video Smith said metropolitan police had initially refused to release his wife because he wrongly said he was violating bail by participating in the protest. Realizing that these conditions of release were no longer valid and were no longer valid, police later decided to detain her because they considered it “a serial breach of bail,” Smith said. He added: “Normally when they do things like this they are for people who have committed crimes that greatly affect society, abusive crimes or domestic violence or the like – if there is a constant risk. Scientists and doctors protest outside the Charing Cross police station on Friday in solidarity with activist and scientist Emma Smart, who was arrested for sticking herself to the BEIS government building as part of the Extinction Rebellion climate action, and is currently in custody. on hunger strike. cell. Photo: Vuk Valcic / ZUMA Press Wire / REX / Shutterstock “In this case, he was arrested for a very small crime of criminal damage to a government building. Also, there was no disturbance there, it was a targeted protest, so it is very unusual for them to follow this line. “Legally they can, but it is a very unusual protocol to do that. “It should have had the same guarantee terms as all the other scientists, which was: stay out of Westminster.” Raj Chada, of Hodge Jones Allen, the law firm representing Smart, said: “We urgently demand the release of Emmas from her possible illegal detention. She is charged with a minor offense, for which she is unlikely to be sentenced to prison. “There is no reason to keep her and worry about her well-being.” A Met Police spokesman said: “Bail decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and address a range of issues including, if there is a risk to the public or detainee, the possibility of non-compliance with any warranty terms or evasion. and any previous history of breach during the payment of the guarantee. “As long as people are in custody, the officers have a duty to take care of their well-being and will ensure that the medical needs of all detainees are taken into account. Health professionals are available in each care suite. ”
