In a continuation of her global activism, renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by police in London on Tuesday. Thunberg, who rose to prominence for her weekly protests in front of the Swedish parliament in 2018, joins a long list of occasions where she has been taken into custody or removed from protests in various countries. This time, Thunberg was apprehended outside an oil and gas conference after protesting alongside others, which obstructed some attendees from entering the venue.
The incident took place outside the Intercontinental Hotel in Mayfair, where the Energy Intelligence Forum was hosting a gathering of influential figures from the oil and gas industry. Thunberg and dozens of protesters used their locked arms to block entrances, prompting police to intervene and detain them. Witness footage revealed Thunberg, wearing a badge that read 'Oily Money Out', remaining composed as two police officers engaged in conversation with her, with one seen holding her arm. Subsequent images captured the activist being searched before being placed in the back of a police van.
While the Metropolitan Police in London did not immediately provide a statement on the incident involving Thunberg, they did confirm making 20 arrests related to the protestors outside the hotel. Greenpeace, an environmental organization, revealed that hundreds of demonstrators participated in the protest, effectively preventing delegates from entering the venue. Additionally, two activists from Greenpeace were reported to have scaled the building and unveiled a massive banner that read 'Make Big Oil Pay'.
Inside the Intercontinental Hotel, the disruptions caused by the protest resulted in two scheduled speakers being unable to attend the event. Torbjörn Törnqvist, the CEO of trading house Gunvor, and Ben Luckock, the head of oil trading at Trafigura, were both impeded from entering the premises due to the actions of climate protesters.
Addressing the crowd during the protest, Thunberg emphasized the detrimental impact of fossil fuels on our planet and its inhabitants. She stated, "The world is drowning in fossil fuels. People all over the world are suffering and dying from the consequences of the climate crisis caused by these industries."
Thunberg's unwavering commitment to raising awareness about the urgent need for climate action continues to resonate globally. Her activism has not only garnered widespread attention but has also inspired a generation of young environmentalists to take a stand against the detrimental practices and policies impacting our planet.