Greta Thunberg charged with 25 others after central London climate protest

Ben Lynch LDRS
By Ben Lynch LDRS

LDRS

Published 18th Oct 2023, 11:45 BST
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Ms Thunberg joined a crowd of hundreds gathered to demonstrate outside the venue for this year's Energy Intelligence Forum.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been charged after attending a central London protest railing against oil executives.

Ms Thunberg is one of 26 people charged in connection with the demonstration outside the Energy Intelligence Forum (EIF), held at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel, yesterday morning (October 17).

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Led by Fossil Free London (FFL) and supported by groups including Extinction Rebellion (XR), attendees gathered in their hundreds to protest over the climate records of those attending the EIF.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaking at the 'Oily Money Out' protest in London. Credit: Chris J Ratcliffe for Greenpeace via Getty Images.Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaking at the 'Oily Money Out' protest in London. Credit: Chris J Ratcliffe for Greenpeace via Getty Images.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaking at the 'Oily Money Out' protest in London. Credit: Chris J Ratcliffe for Greenpeace via Getty Images. | Greenpeace via Getty Images

Speakers at the three-day event, which until 2019 was called the Oil and Money Conference, include Amin Nasser, president and chief executive of Saudi Aramco, and Anders Opedal, president and chief executive of Equinor.

Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and COP28 president, was also meant to address the forum, though has since been removed from the list.

Speaking outside the venue, Ms Thunberg said: “People all over the world are suffering and dying because of the consequences of the climate crisis, caused by these industries who we allow to meet with our politicians and have privileged access to. 

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“The world is drowning in fossil fuels. Our hopes and dreams and lives are being washed away by a flood of greenwashing and lies.”

Greta Thunberg has been charged after attending a protest outside the Energy Intelligence Forum. Credit: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images.Greta Thunberg has been charged after attending a protest outside the Energy Intelligence Forum. Credit: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images.
Greta Thunberg has been charged after attending a protest outside the Energy Intelligence Forum. Credit: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images. | AFP via Getty Images

A Met Police spokesperson has now confirmed a total of 26 people have been charged following the demonstration.

They said protesters were asked to move off of the road outside the hotel and onto the pavement, enabling them to continue demonstrating without breaching conditions set by the force to “prevent disruption to the public".

Speaking ahead of the protest, Nigel Harvey, 60, a recycling company chief executive from St Albans, said: “I refuse to look the other way as oil and gas companies continue the reckless expansion of fossil fuels. They know this will cause untold human suffering, as large parts of our planet become uninhabitable.”

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What were protesters charged with?

Obstructing the highway, and bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 15:

  • Miranda Splitt, (23.05.60), of Newcastle upon Tyne

  • Diana Jellinek (16.02.60), of Somerset

Obstructing the highway and bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 17:

  • Daniel Oldfield (06.05.88), of Lewisham

  • Harry Holmes, (08.07.98), of Waltham Forest

  • Rodrick Cobley, (31.07.76), of Waltham Forest

Failure to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act, bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 15:

  • Bas Sprurjt, (04.06.96), of Somerset

  • Craig Vaz, (06.05.63), of Somerset

  • Leon Edwards, (20.02.66), of Dorset

  • Lars Joseph Christofer Kebbon, (06.08.04), of Dorset

  • Greta Thunberg, (03.01.03), of Dorset

  • Joshua Unwin, (11.01.92), of Hitchin

  • Richard Baxter, (11.07.61), of Bristol

  • Peter Joseph Barker, (15.06.64), of Powys

  • Emma Follett, (12.10.82), of Godalming

  • Jeff Michael Rice, (28.01.67), of Nottinghamshire

  • Audley Burnett, (19.01.56), of Carmarthenshire

Failure to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act, bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 20:

  • Marcus Hugh Bailie, (16.02.55), of Caerphilly

  • Scott Henry, (04.09.68), of Brighton

  • Heather Inman, (10.11.77), of Haringey

  • Katie Burrell, (05.10.72), of Lambeth

  • Oliver Etchells, (02.07.95), of Lewisham

  • Thomas Plessius, (07.10.04), of no fixed address

  • Nancy Clarke, (28.05.63), of Alton

The other protesters charged were:

  • Samantha Lucas, (17.09.82), of Oxfordshire, with failing to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. She was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 29.

  • Julie Hermann, (28.02.84), of Lambeth, with failing to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. She was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 17.

  • Sandra McGee, (09.08.83), of Nisbet in Scotland, with failing to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. She was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 22.

Another woman, arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Related topics:Greta ThunbergLondonClimate crisisExtinction RebellionMet Police