London: More than 100 held in climate change protests

LONDON

Police in London have arrested more than 100 activists overnight in ongoing climate change protests that brought London to a standstill as some main roads in the city have been blocked since Monday morning.

As of Tuesday morning, "there have been 113 arrests in total, the majority of which are for breach of Section 14 Notice of the Public Order Act 1986 and obstruction of the highway," a police statement said.

Thousands of climate change activists have blocked main roads in London since Monday morning in a bid to protest government inaction over rising global climate and ecological crisis.

The protesters blocked Waterloo Bridge, one of the main passages across River Thames under heavy police presence.

The rallies are also being held in Marble Arch and Oxford Circus, other hotspots in the British capital.

The organizers, Extinction Rebellion, a grassroots activist movement, have said they planned to continue the protests throughout the week, "each day thousands of people will sit down in the roads of central London."

The protesters are demanding the government to declare a state of "climate emergency" and reforms "to address climate change as an educational priority".

"Whilst a proportionate policing plan is in place to balance the right to a peaceful protest, officers are well trained to maintain public order and are ready to respond to any incidents that may arise," the police statement added.