A paramedic begged police to clear Just Stop Oil protesters out of the road so he can attend a ‘life or death’ emergency as they held up traffic on Waterloo Bridge.
Activists staging a ‘die-in’ have been accused of blocking a ‘blue lights’ ambulance trying to respond to an emergency at Guy’s Hospital in central London.
Video and pictures from the scene showed a blue-light ambulance trapped in gridlocked traffic in central London, where eco zealots slow-marched and lay down on the wet pavement.
One exasperated paramedic is reported to have begged police to be given access through the road, saying he was trying to save someone’s life.
The driver of the ambulance told The Telegraph: ‘I am responding to a life-and-death emergency – I am going to pick up a team from Guy’s hospital to save someone’s life at another hospital but can’t get through.’
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police said the march was causing gridlock on the bridge, holding up traffic including an ambulance with ‘blue lights on’.
But Just Stop Oil hit back, saying it was actually the police who were blocking the ambulance from getting past.
The Metropolitan Police said the march was causing gridlock on the bridge, holding up traffic including an ambulance with ‘blue lights on
Video and pictures from the scene showed a blue light ambulance unable to get past the gridlocked traffic
A furious passer-by shouted at the activists to ‘protest in the right place’ as the ambulance’s sirens blared
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson told : ‘Earlier today, the Metropolitan Police shared a tweet suggesting that Just Stop Oil supporters were blocking an ambulance vehicle.
‘We have deep sympathy for anyone suffering a medical emergency at any time. Nobody’s life or health is more valuable than others.
‘Just Stop Oil’s policy has always been that we immediately move out of the way for emergency vehicles with blue lights on.
‘In this case, Just Stop Oil supporters were on the other side of the road, and had never blocked the side of the road the ambulance was on.
‘The picture shared by the Metropolitan Police indicates that it’s only their officers who are blocking the road with the ambulance. Our own pictures confirm this.
‘Nevertheless, we accept that our actions do cause disruption. There are a limited range of options available to normal people to resist government criminality.
‘We will not stand by and watch while our government continues to license new oil and gas, which in itself is an act of violence.’
has contacted the Met Police for comment.
Just Stop Oil protesters on Waterloo Bridge in London today as they slow-march in the road
Just Stop Oil protesters sit on Waterloo Bridge today being spoken to by police officers
An activist from Just Stop Oil lies on a wet pavement as they block traffic on Waterloo Bridge
A large police presence could be seen at the scene in central London this morning
Two photographs released by the force appeared to show the traffic held up on Waterloo Bridge.
Police said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter: ‘This is some of the congestion which JSO are causing on Waterloo Bridge.
‘One of the vehicles is an ambulance on blue lights which is not able to get past. Officers are continually telling the activists to move out the road so it can pass while making arrests.’
A group of activists began slow-marching on Waterloo Bridge earlier this morning before officers warned them to move out of the road or face arrest.
A Met Police officer dealing with JSO protesters lying on the ground
Scotland Yard said it was having to remove officers from community duties to deal with these incidents
The protesters brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill this morning
The demonstration began at about 9.30am, and the Metropolitan Police told the activists to move out of the road so they could continue protesting on the pavement
Officers have since made more than 40 arrests after the group failed to comply with police orders, later confirming all activists had been moved out of the road.
When a defiant cyclist rode straight through a crowd of demonstrators outside Waterloo station, they shouted: ‘Woah, go around the side.’
It comes after the Met Police confirmed 44 Just Stop Oil activists had been charged following disruption on Monday, including two said to have caused criminal damage at the National Gallery.
Chaotic scenes saw eco zealots smash the protective glass on the priceless Rokeby Venus oil painting at the National Gallery and march towards the Cenotaph on Monday.
There have been 219 arrests and 98 criminal charges since October 30.