Greta Thunberg was arrested in London on Tuesday during a demonstration against the oil and gas industry outside the hotel hosting the Energy Intelligence Forum, which brings together the leaders of the world’s oil giants for three days at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel.
Speakers at the conference also include the CEOs of Aramco of Saudi Arabia and Equinor of Norway, as well as the UK Minister for Energy Security.
The Swedish activist was arrested by two officers at midday and loaded into a police car, according to a Portal journalist and an AFP photographer. Thunberg, along with dozens of other protesters, chanted “No more oil money” and tried to block access to the hotel where the forum was taking place.
– (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
Greenpeace activists descended from the hotel roof to unfurl a banner reading “Force Big Oil to Pay.” Protesters accuse fossil fuel companies of deliberately slowing the global transition to renewable energy to make more profits. “The world is drowning in fossil fuels. “Our hopes, our dreams and our lives are being swept away by a wave of greenwashing and lies,” Thunberg told reporters before being stopped.
In some videos shared on social media and published by English tabloids, the 20-year-old Swede can be seen smiling as she is arrested by officers and led to a police car. Police also said they arrested five other people for blocking the highway.
Environmental groups have said they will continue to protest during the forum, which is expected to last three days.