Londoners are facing a fourth day of travel disruption as environmental protesters vow to maintain roadblocks across the capital despite 400 arrests.
Bus users travelling to central London have been warned of ongoing disruption from the Extinction Rebellion protests.
Transport for London tweeted: “Central London / Extinction Rebellion – Bus routes which usually serve stops in central London remain diverted / curtailed due to an on-going protest which is blocking several roads.”
Activists said they plan to continue roadblocks, which have affected more than half a million people with traffic gridlock and disruption to transport and businesses since Monday, until at least next Friday.
Robin Boardman-Pattison, 21, who walked off during an interview with Sky News, said activists were planning to step up action on the rail and London Underground network.
“We will be escalating our disruption throughout the week,” he said. “The impact to the Tube system will grow.”
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said “we’ve got the message” after some Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists glued themselves to a train and others chained themselves to Jeremy Corbyn’s garden fence.
Scotland Yard said more than 100 people were arrested on Wednesday, bringing the total to almost 400 as ongoing protests continue in Parliament Square, Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.
On Wednesday night, campaigners were playing a cat-and-mouse game with police, who promised to continue the operation overnight.
The Metropolitan Police could not confirm whether or not anyone had been charged with any criminal offences, while some of those released from custody rejoined the protests.
Asked about the protests on the BBC’s The One Show, Mr Gove said: “I think it’s appropriate for people to make their feelings known but I also think, we’ve got the message, we understand that action needs to be taken.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Twitter: “We’re facing a climate emergency. I fully support the right of protesters to protest on this vital issue, and urge organisers to work with police to ensure their demonstrations are peaceful and lawful and that disruption is kept to a minimum.”
His comments angered John Apter, the chairman of the Police Federation, who told the Telegraph that “officers are under enough pressure as it is”.
“What we don’t need, as well-intended as it might be, is a politician aggravating the situation and making it worse,” said Mr Apter, whose organisation represents rank-and-file officers.
