Twenty-nine arrested after protest outside London hotel

Twenty-nine people, including Greta Thunberg, have been arrested following a protest outside London’s InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane.

The climate campaigner was participating in a Fossil Free London protest yesterday (17 October) aimed at a group of oil executives attending the Energy Intelligence Forum.

The forum is taking place in the hotel and will finish on 19 October.

Metropolitan Police revealed officers had been on the scene since the morning to have “discussions with the protestors and ensure safe access to the venue by members of the public”.

Six people were arrested for obstruction of the highway.

At 12.32pm, officers imposed conditions on the group under section 14 of the Public Order Act, which was given to “prevent serious disruption to the community, hotel and guests”.

Protesters were asked to move from the road onto the pavement to ensure they could continue the protest without breaching the act.

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police added: “A number of protesters failed to do so and we have now made a further 14 arrests for section 14 of the public order act and a further one for criminal damage.”

Officers remained on the scene until the protest ended in the evening.

A total of 29 people were arrested: six for obstruction of the highway, one for criminal damage, one for breach of court bail conditions, and 21 for breach of section 14 conditions.

All remain in custody, the police said.

InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane has been contacted for comment.