Just Stop Oil activists target road in Knightsbridge near Harrods

An irate van driver today drove through a mass of environmental protesters at a major junction in London as other fed-up motorists ripped banners from them and dragged them off by hand amid extraordinary scenes. 

The Just Stop Oil activists also caused a fire engine responding to an emergency to be blocked as they took to the capital’s streets yet again – this time in exclusive Knightsbridge, on their 11th consecutive day of demonstrations.

Motorists blared their horns and motorcyclists tried to weave their way past the environmental activists sat on the road at the junction of Knightsbridge and Brompton Road in a demonstration against new fossil fuel licences. 

The traffic chaos, which began at about 10am and involved 32 of the group’s activists, caused stuck drivers to get out of their cars and angrily remonstrate with the protesters – some of whom had glued themselves to the road.

The junction is a major traffic interchange for those driving in or out of Central London to and from the west of the city, and is located close to the Harrods department store, Knightsbridge Underground station and Hyde Park.  

Some 275 Just Stop Oil demonstrators are thought to have been arrested over the ten days up to and including yesterday, and the group claimed there had been more than 1,500 arrests since its campaign began on April 1.

TODAY — A man remonstrates with Just Stop Oil protesters on the road at a major junction in Knightsbridge this morning 

TODAY — Motorists argue with Just Stop Oil protesters on the road at a major junction in Knightsbridge in West London today

TODAY — Just Stop Oil protesters take to the streets of London this morning as they block a road in exclusive Knightsbridge

TODAY — A man remonstrates with Just Stop Oil protesters on the road a major junction in Knightsbridge this morning

TODAY — Just Stop Oil protesters on the road at the junction of Knightsbridge and Brompton Road in West London today

TODAY — Police officers speak to Just Stop Oil protesters as they block a road in Knightsbridge in West London this morning

TODAY — Just Stop Oil protesters take to the streets of London this morning as they block a road in exclusive Knightsbridge

TODAY — A man rips a Just Stop Oil banner away from protesters as they block a road in Knightsbridge in West London today

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TODAY — Police officers watch over Just Stop Oil protesters as they block a road in Knightsbridge in West London today

TODAY — Just Stop Oil protesters take to the streets of London this morning as they block a road in exclusive Knightsbridge

It comes after 25 activists were arrested by Scotland Yard yesterday following a blockade of The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, with the disruption lasting just over two hours before they were eventually all removed.

The protesters outside the royal residence, who had travelled from Scotland, said they felt the need to act after the UK Government gave its backing last month to an expansion of oil and gas operations in the North Sea.

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) is expected to undertake a new round of oil and gas licensing this month, but one of yesterday’s protesters described this ‘a death sentence for all of us here’.

However Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said the licensing could lead to more than 100 new licences being granted, which he claimed could ‘safeguard’ UK energy supplies and support more than 70,000 jobs in Scotland.

YESTERDAY — Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall near Buckingham Palace

OCTOBER 9 — Protesters block the road in a demonstration at Piccadilly Circus in London 

OCTOBER 8 — A man is removed by police during a Just Stop Oil protest at Green Park

OCTOBER 7 — Just Stop Oil activists block Vauxhall Bridge Road in Central London last week

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OCTOBER 6 — Just Stop Oil activists at Trafalgar Square in London as their protests continue

OCTOBER 5 — Police speak to Just Stop Oil protesters block a road leading into Westminster

OCTOBER 4 — Climate activists from Just Stop Oil block the roads around Parliament Square

OCTOBER 3 — Police try to move Just Stop Oil protesters blocking roads in Trafalgar Square

OCTOBER 2 — Police wach as Just Stop Oil of protesters occupy Waterloo Bridge in London

OCTOBER 1 — Activists occupy Parliament Square as Just Stop Oil carry out more protests

A Government spokesman said: ‘We remain fully committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and the UK is forging ahead of many other countries on net zero – with 40 per cent of our power now coming from cleaner and cheaper renewable sources.

‘But with Russia weaponising energy across Europe, we must make sure we do so in a way that protects energy security, by boosting homegrown energy supply and reducing our dependence on foreign imports.

‘This includes increasing domestic gas supply, which we’ve always been clear will have a role in our transition to net zero. But we will also continue to drive forward our commitments on nuclear and renewables like offshore wind.’