Insulate Britain this morning targeted Old Street roundabout – in the heart of London’s hipster haven Shoreditch – and again the M25.
Scores of the protesters – who have been widely savaged for their actions – sat down in the roundabout holding banners.
They were flanked by as many ‘official observers’ dressed in high-vis vests after a series of confrontations from furious motorists in recent days.
After heavy criticism, the unpopular campaigners were also seen moving for ambulances getting out.
The eco-mob were also back at the M25 breaking a court injunction designed to stop them.
Two of the motorway bandits were lambasted by a furious mother whose daughter was late for classes due to their actions.
She was caught on LBC film chastising them: ‘It’s backing up, all because all you care about is insulating houses.
‘My daughter is late to school, you are messing with children’s education because you are selfish.
‘I hope you got that on camera, I think they are a disgrace.’
The protesters could be seen cross legged on the ground holding up the now-infamous Insulate Britain logo banners
Scores of the protesters – who have been widely savaged for their actions – sat at Old Street, in the heart of hippy London
Police appeared to swiftly leap into action at the M25, racing into the road to drag out the protesters by their high-vis vests
It came after more than 100 activists were served with an injunction against road-blocking earlier in the week at court
Today they were flanked by as many ‘official observers’ dressed in high-vis vests after confrontations at other locations
But the cause was utterly unrepentant about the damage they were doing.
Liam Norton from Insulate Britain said: ‘This isn’t a cause, this is about the deaths of our children before they get to grow old. This isn’t protesting, this is about doing whatever it takes to protect the future generations. And we want to be clear, this campaign will continue until the government gives us a meaningful statement we can trust, if that happens we will get off the roads like a shot
It came after more than 100 activists were served with an injunction against road-blocking protests at the High Court.
The Met Police said: ‘We are responding to two protests this morning which are blocking roads. Activists are disrupting traffic around Old Street roundabout.
The campaigners were seen in the way of an ambulance but now move out of the way as part of a new policy from him
Insulate Britain defended action saying ‘This isn’t a cause, this is about deaths of our children’
Insulate Britain: Timeline of chaos across London
September 13 – 78 Insulate Britain protesters are arrested after blocking junctions 3, 6, 14, 20 and 31 of the M25
September 15 – More than 50 protesters are arrested after targeting junctions 1, 8, 9 and 23 of the M25.
September 17 – 48 protesters arrested after targeting junctions 3, 9 and 28 of the M25, as well as the M3
September 20 – 29 protesters are arrested after blocking the M25 at junctions 4 and 18, as well as the A1
September 21 – Protesters risk death by running into moving traffic to block the carriageway near Junction 10. Some 38 arrests are made. National Highways obtains an injunction against further protests on the M25
September 22 – Protesters burn copies of the injunction outside the Home Office, blocking the road outside the ministry. No arrests are made
September 24 – 39 protesters are arrested after blocking roads at three locations in Dover. They are all released under investigation. National Highways obtains a second injunction covering Dover.
September 27 – 53 protesters are arrested for blocking a slip road at Junction 14 of the M25. They are all released under investigation.
September 28 – National Highways says it is taking ‘legal advice’ over how to enforce its injunction
September 29 – 27 protesters are arrested for blocking a roundabout at Junction 3 of the M25 on two occasions
September 30 – Protesters return to junction 30 at Thurrock in Essex, and nine are arrested
October 1: The group block the M4 at junction 3, the M1 at junction 1 and M25 at junction 25. Some 39 arrests
October 2: Third injunction bans them from obstructing traffic and access to motorways and major A roads in and around London
October 4: 38 arrests after protesters block three major roads in London – the Blackwall Tunnel, Wandsworth Bridge and A40 and North Circular at Hanger Lane.
October 8: Protesters hit Old Street and again the M25
‘They’re also disrupting motorists at Junction 25 of the M25. We’re on scene and working quickly to get traffic moving.
‘We know that some activists have used super glue to frustrate our efforts and to delay Londoner’s even further.
‘We train for these scenarios and have specialist teams on hand to help remove people and make arrests. We will share more information shortly.
Protesters from the Extinction Rebellion offshoot have blocked major roads including the M25, M1 and M4 over the past three weeks, and three court injunctions have now been put in place but demonstrations have continued.
The original injunction, granted to National Highways on September 21, banned the demonstrations on the M25 and was followed by a second approved on September 24 which restricted protests around the Port of Dover.
A third injunction was granted on Saturday, banning them from obstructing traffic and access to motorways and major A roads in and around London – but this has not stopped the protests which again caused chaos yesterday.
The group, which is calling on the Government to insulate all homes across the UK by 2030 to help cut carbon emissions, has mostly focused on blockading the M25 but has sat down on other London roads since last Friday.
Until now, they had not yet carried out any road protests for a few days day, but their campaign of roadblocks caused fresh misery yesterday, as activists targeted three major sites of the Blackwall Tunnel, Wandsworth Bridge and Hanger Lane.
At the Conservative Party conference the Prime Minister said the Insulate Britain protesters had been ‘doing considerable damage to the economy’.
His comments came ahead of Home Secretary Priti Patel’s speech, where she laid out new measures to deal with demonstrators deemed to be disruptive.
Boris Johnson told LBC: ‘There are some people who call those individuals legitimate protesters.
‘They are not. I think they are irresponsible crusties who are basically trying to stop people going about their day’s work and doing considerable damage to the economy.
‘That is why we have taken the powers and why Priti Patel is doing the right thing to bring in powers so they can get six months or an unlimited fine.’
The Home Secretary announced plans for eco-fanatics to be hit with a new type of Asbo in a fresh attempt to bring their chaotic road protests to an end.
The Criminal Disruption Prevention Orders – dubbed ‘Asbos for crusties’ – are intended to be quicker to enforce than the Government’s current approach, which has been based on High Court injunctions.
It will be made a crime to ‘interfere with critical national infrastructure’, including major roads, railways, seaports, power stations and newspaper printing presses.
The new crime will carry up to six months’ imprisonment and will be dealt with at magistrates’ courts only – after sympathetic juries acquitted a series of XR activists in the Crown courts.
It will give police new options when arresting offenders who block motorways or other sites, and make it more likely that protesters will face jail.
A Conservative source said police would ‘now have no excuse’ for not arresting and charging Insulate Britain troublemakers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10072003/Fury-eco-mob-target-M25-busy-roundabout-near-hipster-enclave-London.html
