Dramatic footage has emerged of the moment an eco activist was carried away by her arms and legs while delivering a tirade against climate change, as police arrested the woman in her own home.
The Just Stop Oil activist is one of 27 people detained by police this week who are suspected of plotting to disrupt airports this summer, as part of a ‘swift and robust’ co-ordinated police operation.
Speaking to a camera at moment of her arrest by three officers, the woman repeatedly said she ‘had not done anything wrong’.
In the minute-long clip, which has emerged on X, the woman found herself surrounded by officers and began by saying: ‘Oil and gas means collapse. It means the loss of everything we know. Out political system is absolutely broken.’
She added: ‘I’ve not done anything wrong. I’m a supporter of Just Stop Oil. They’ve come to my house and arrested me in my home.’
As she is taken outside and carefully carried by the officers into a waiting police vehicle, she said: ‘This is my home. You cannot come to my home and arrest me.’
In a response to , Met Police said it can not comment on individual arrests, however a total of 27 ‘key organisers’ of planned disruption have been held in London, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Devon, Essex, Manchester, Surrey, Sussex, Norfolk and West Yorkshire.
On Tuesday, four people were arrested and released on bail after being identified at Gatwick Airport, while on Thursday, six were arrested at an east London community centre as part of a publicly-advertised event promoting airport disruption.
Yesterday, 17 individuals were arrested at their homes across the country.
In a statement issued on Friday, Met Police said: ‘All the individuals were arrested under a section of the Public Order Act which makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure.
‘Among those held were several high-profile members of Just Stop Oil who we believe to be key organisers.
‘Met officers worked with more than eight other police forces to arrest suspects at their homes across the country. A total of 17 people were arrested.’
Chief Supt Ian Howells, who led the operation, said: ‘We know Just Stop Oil are planning to disrupt airports across the country this summer which is why we have taken swift and robust action now.
‘Our stance is very clear that anyone who compromises the safety and security of airports in London can expect a strong response from officers or security staff.
‘Airports are complex operating environments which is why we are working closely with them, agencies and other partners on this operation.’
Those who have been arrested and released on bail have been banned from travelling within 1km of any UK airport unless passing through by vehicle or public transport.
Met Police added that ‘in future, anyone suspected of breaching this condition can be arrested immediately for this offence.’
Responding to the arrests, Just Stop Oil said ‘the British state has acted unlawfully.’
A statement appearing on the group’s website said: ‘Being a Just Stop Oil supporter is now enough to make you a suspect.
‘Believing that no government has the right to tyrannise the entire world by encouraging the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, marks you out as a dangerous radical.’
Just Stop Oil added that it will continue in its goal of demanding the government ceases extraction and burning of all oil, gas and coal by 2030.
The protest group has recently staged numerous high-profile actions, which have sparked outrage from politicians and members of the public alike.
Earlier this month, two of the group’s members were arrested for spraying Stonehenge with orange paint.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the attack as a ‘disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK’s and the world’s oldest and most important monuments.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said ‘Just Stop Oil are pathetic’ following the action.
In a tweet, he wrote: ‘The damage done to Stonehenge is outrageous. Just Stop oil are pathetic. Those responsible must face the full force of the law.’
Activists have also targeted private jets at London’s Stansted airport in recent weeks.
One of these jets was thought to have belonged to Taylor Swift, however it was actually revealed that a US bank’s jet had been targeted.
The action impacted an 18-seat Gulfstream G650, which would be worth around £60million when new, according to documents seen by .
According to a source, the stunt at Stansted was only a ‘prelude’ to plans to disrupt even more airports over the coming months.
Speaking to The Times, the source said: ‘This is just another way of us taking action in the theatres of life we exist in because we’re not politicians.
‘Private jets are obviously mental for emissions and most people would agree they need to stop.
‘It’s a wake-up call for government that we need big radical changes.’
Police have continuously come under pressure from the government to take a firmer line with protesters to limit the disruption they cause.