Greta Thunberg has been charged with a public order offence after she was arrested while taking part in a protest against a conference in London described as “the Oscars of oil”.
The Swedish environmental campaigner, 20, was one of 29 arrested during a protest trying to stop delegates entering the Energy Intelligence Forum at the InterContinental Park Lane in Mayfair, central London. Videos showed her being placed in the back of a police van after joining crowds blocking hotel entrances and chanting “oily money out”. Police officers had jostled with protesters to create a channel for delegates to enter.
Thunberg had earlier given a speech to journalists denouncing the conference, a meeting of energy executives and politicians, saying: “We have no other option but to put our bodies outside this conference and to physically disrupt .” According to the Metropolitan police, she was charged with “failing to comply with a condition imposed under section 14 of the Public Order Act”. Police had demanded protesters move from the road on to the pavement.More details soon …