Greta Thunberg, during an Oily Money Out and Fossil Free London protest in London today (Picture: REUTERS)
Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was led away by police after she was part of a group taking part in a protest in central London.
Thunberg, 20, along with other members of the Fossil Free London group gathered outside a central London hotel where oil executives were meeting to demand they remove their money from national politics.
The group says that fossil fuel companies are deliberately slowing the global energy transition to renewables in order to make more profit.
Activists were highlighting how this year’s UN climate conference president is also the CEO of an oil company.
The protesters attempted to block access to the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane by sitting and standing on the pavement by the entrance.
Thunberg was seen being taken into the back of a police van earlier today (Picture: Getty)
The Met said five people were arrested earlier today (Picture: AFP)
Five people were arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway and taken into custody, the Metropolitan Police said.
The activists said they will continue their actions throughout the planned Energy Intelligence Forum, which is due to last over the following three days.
Addressing journalists outside the hotel, Miss Thunberg said: ‘The world is drowning in fossil fuels. Our hopes and dreams and lives are being washed away by a flood of greenwashing and lies.
‘It has been clear for decades that the fossil fuel industries were well aware of the consequences of their business models, and yet, they have done nothing.
‘The opposite – they have actively delayed, distracted and denied the causes of the climate crisis and spread doubts about their own engagement in it.’
Dozens of protesters blocked Hamilton Place at both ends with banners and pink umbrellas with eyes painted on, shouting ‘oily money out’ and ‘cancel the conference’, while others lit yellow and pink smoke flares.
A white fence surrounded the hotel entrance keeping protesters out while police smuggled conference attendees through the crowd of chanting activists and a samba band.