Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was taken into custody by British police in central London during a protest outside a significant oil and gas conference, DW reports.
The 20-year-old activist joined hundreds of demonstrators near the InterContinental London Park Lane hotel for the "Oily Money Out" protest, organized by advocacy groups Fossil Free London and Greenpeace, where they obstructed access to the venue. Images captured Thunberg wearing a protest badge and calmly engaging with police officers. She was subsequently searched and placed in the back of a police vehicle.
The demonstrators have accused fossil fuel companies of deliberately hindering the global transition to renewable energy to maximize their profits. Thunberg addressed the media prior to her detention, condemning politicians for making deals with fossil fuel lobbyists behind closed doors. She emphasized the urgent need to disrupt such conferences and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its actions. Environmental groups pledged to continue protesting throughout the conference, which was scheduled to last until October 19.
In a related development, two Greenpeace activists scaled the hotel building to unfurl a massive banner that read "make big oil pay." London's Metropolitan Police have not issued a statement on Thunberg's detention, but they announced 20 arrests in connection with the protests outside the hotel. Thunberg has faced similar situations in Sweden, Norway, and Germany this year.
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