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M25 Dartford Crossing closed as protesters climb bridge | M25 Dartford Crossing closed as protesters climb bridge |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Just Stop Oil said protesters had scaled the suspension bridge via its cables | |
The climate change campaign group Just Stop Oil says it expects its two supporters to remain on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge for 24 hours. | |
Police received reports of protesters scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST. | |
Diversions for traffic using the M25 east of London were put in place via the Dartford Tunnel. | |
Just Stop Oil said it was part of a protest against new government oil and gas licences. | Just Stop Oil said it was part of a protest against new government oil and gas licences. |
The 1.7-mile (2.8km) bridge takes traffic southbound on the A282, which connects the M25 London Orbital Motorway from Essex to Kent. The Dartford Tunnel usually carries traffic northbound. | |
Essex Police's Chief Constable, Ben-Julian Harrington, said: "It is a really dangerous and difficult environment. | |
"I think they're crazy. I'm really frustrated." | |
The force said the incident could take "some time to resolve due to the complexities of safely getting people down from height". | |
National Highways East wrote on Twitter that there were "delays of two hours in both directions, with eight miles of congestion anti-clockwise and seven miles of congestion clockwise". | National Highways East wrote on Twitter that there were "delays of two hours in both directions, with eight miles of congestion anti-clockwise and seven miles of congestion clockwise". |
The A282 at the QE2 Bridge was closed for safety reasons | The A282 at the QE2 Bridge was closed for safety reasons |
Just Stop Oil said the two supporters ascended the two 84m (275ft) masts at the northern end of the bridge. | |
A group spokesperson said it was protesting against new government oil and gas licences and that "it is expected that the bridge will remain shut for at least 24 hours". | |
The group said one of the pair, Morgan Trowland, was a 39-year-old bridge design engineer from London. | The group said one of the pair, Morgan Trowland, was a 39-year-old bridge design engineer from London. |
Mr Trowland said: "Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production - killing human life and destroying our environment. | Mr Trowland said: "Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production - killing human life and destroying our environment. |
"I can't challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I'm taking direct action." | "I can't challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I'm taking direct action." |
Just Stop Oil said: "Our political system is betraying the people of this country. More fossil fuel licenses means global genocide" | Just Stop Oil said: "Our political system is betraying the people of this country. More fossil fuel licenses means global genocide" |
Southbound traffic was being diverted via the Dartford Tunnel, which normally only takes traffic travelling north on the M25 | Southbound traffic was being diverted via the Dartford Tunnel, which normally only takes traffic travelling north on the M25 |
Essex Police said the two people were "currently at height" | Essex Police said the two people were "currently at height" |
Nationals Highways said there were delays of two hours travelling northbound and southbound | Nationals Highways said there were delays of two hours travelling northbound and southbound |
The Conservative MP for Dartford in Kent, Gareth Johnson, said it was "wrong" for the activists to "impose their views" on people trying to get to work and school. | |
"I totally deplore this action which is yet again causing traffic misery to people in and around Dartford," he said. | "I totally deplore this action which is yet again causing traffic misery to people in and around Dartford," he said. |
"It is yet another example of how utterly selfish these protesters are." | "It is yet another example of how utterly selfish these protesters are." |
Pictures showed the two demonstrators had unfurled a pink Just Stop Oil banner. | |
The bridge at the Dartford Crossing remains closed. pic.twitter.com/evJ4rNakxd | |
Rob Hollyman, director of Youngs Transport Ltd in Purfleet on the north bank of the river, told BBC Essex: "It's absolutely dreadful. It's costing us hundreds of thousands of pounds. | Rob Hollyman, director of Youngs Transport Ltd in Purfleet on the north bank of the river, told BBC Essex: "It's absolutely dreadful. It's costing us hundreds of thousands of pounds. |
"I'm sitting in a traffic jam instead of being at work running the business." | "I'm sitting in a traffic jam instead of being at work running the business." |
The group said more than 450 of its supporters have been arrested during the last two weeks of action. | |
Protesters were dragged away by members of the public in Shoreditch, east London, on Sunday | Protesters were dragged away by members of the public in Shoreditch, east London, on Sunday |
Just Stop Oil says more than 450 of its supporters have been arrested over the last two weeks at various sites, including outside Buckingham Palace | Just Stop Oil says more than 450 of its supporters have been arrested over the last two weeks at various sites, including outside Buckingham Palace |
More than 20 people were arrested on Sunday after some activists glued themselves to the road in Shoreditch High Street in east London. | More than 20 people were arrested on Sunday after some activists glued themselves to the road in Shoreditch High Street in east London. |
The High Court issued an interim injunction last year to deter environmental activists from staging demonstrations on the M25. | The High Court issued an interim injunction last year to deter environmental activists from staging demonstrations on the M25. |
Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman has described the actions of demonstrators as "self-defeating" and "completely indefensible". | Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman has described the actions of demonstrators as "self-defeating" and "completely indefensible". |
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |