Police detain climate activist Greta Thunberg at London protest

Greta Thunberg has been detained by UK police at a climate protest outside a London hotel hosting a major oil and gas industry conference.

Thunberg was among dozens of protesters who chanted “oily money out” and sought to block access on Tuesday to the Energy Intelligence Forum by sitting on the pavement by the entrance.Video footage showed Thunberg standing calmly as two police officers spoke to her. One was seen holding her arm. Still images showed her being searched and placed in the back of a police van.

Protesters held aloft banners and chanted “oily money out” and “cancel the conference,” while some lit yellow and pink smoke flares.

Two activists from the environmental group Greenpeace abseiled down from the roof of the hotel to unfurl a giant banner reading, “Make Big Oil Pay.”

The group said hundreds of demonstrators had gathered in front of the venue to protest against the influence of the fossil fuel industry on UK and global climate politics.London’s Metropolitan Police said six people were initially arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway during the protest. The force said a further 14 were detained on suspicion of disrupting public order, and one other person was detained for criminal damage.

Police said they engaged in conversations with the protesters on allowing people to access the venue safely and prevent serious disruption to the hotel and guests, but some of the activists refused to move from the road.

No charges have been issued yet.

The protesters accuse fossil fuel companies of deliberately slowing the global energy transition to renewables in order to make more profit.