Extinction Rebellion: Protestors close Tower Bridge during rush hour

Tower Bridge has been closed after Extinction Rebellion protesters blocked traffic on the busy Thames crossing.

At 7am this morning, activists hung a large 22m x 3m banner from the suspension part of Tower Bridge in London that reads ‘End Fossil Fuels Now.’

Police later closed the busy route, causing long queues.

Two people are hanging from the bridge by suspension cords and have released red flares.

The bridge is the last crossing between north and south of the river - to the east of the city - which is outside the congestion zone.

Drivers will either have to drive into charging area, or head east and use the Limehouse Link, Rotherhithe Tunnel or Blackwall Tunnel.

This morning’s act of protest comes eight days after the group caused disruption at oil depots across the UK.

A statement from Extinction Rebellion says the action has taken place “on the eve of the April Rebellion which begins tomorrow at 10am in Hyde Park”.

The group have said members are going to gather at Speaker’s Corner every morning for a week or more at the same time.

Amy Rugg-Easey, who is taking part in the action today, said: “I ask myself why I do these things all the time, and the main thing that drives me is that I have tremendous hope and optimism in humanity’s ability to fight the climate crisis; but there are certain people who continue to prevent that for their own profit.

“When I volunteered during the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow last year, I learnt from members of indigenous communities from the Amazon rainforest that companies destroying their home are doing it to extract oil, and some of the indigenous environmental campaigners had been killed while defending their home.

“Some of the banks and companies continuing to fund, insure and endorse these projects are based here in London, where those communities cannot reach them, but I can, so I will do what I can to help.”

The group has said its action will continue until the UK government meets their demands, to end all new fossil fuel infrastructure immediately.

More to follow