Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been detained by police at an anti-oil protest in London.
The 20-year-old was among protesters disrupting a major annual meeting of industry leaders from Shell, Total, Equinor, Saudi Aramco and other oil giants.
Images on social media showed the Swedish activist being led away by police officers and placed in the back of a marked van. She was reportedly taken to Wandsworth police station
The Met Police, while not referring to the activist directly, said they arrested the activists after they refused to move.
A spokesperson said: “We have had continued discussions with the protestors and there have been interventions by officers to enable members of the public safe access in and out of the venue. Six people were arrested for obstruction of the highway.
“Officers on scene have kept this under constant review and at 12.32pm imposed conditions on the group under section 14 of the Public Order Act given to prevent serious disruption to the community, hotel and guests.
“Officers asked the protestors to move from the road onto the pavement, which would enable them to continue with their demonstration without breaching the conditions.
“A number of protestors failed to do so and we have now made a further 14 arrests for section 14 of the public order act and a further one for criminal damage. Officers remain on scene.”
The Swedish activist earlier spoke at the protest coinciding with the start of the Energy Intelligence Forum.
Greta, 20, told journalists at the protest: “It is not a coincidence that we are speeding in the wrong direction. The people in power are knowingly leading us to the end of a precipice.
“They know very well the invaluable things they are sacrificing in order for them to continue squeezing out profits from a dying planet.
“We cannot let this continue. The elites at an oil and money conference have no intention of transition. Their plan is to continue this destructive search for profits. That is why we have to take direct action – to stop this and to kick oily money out of politics.
“We have no other option but to put our bodies outside of this conference and physically disrupt.”
Police earlier said five people were arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway.
Fossil Free London has planned three days of protest action against the conference.
