Greta Thunberg pleads not guilty over London public order offence
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Climate activist Greta Thunberg has denied a public order offence following a mass protest outside a five-star hotel in central London.
The Swedish environmentalist, 20, was arrested after joining hundreds of protesters blocking the entrances of the InterContinental, in Park Lane, on Oct 17.
The hotel was hosting the Energy Intelligence Forum (EIF), which brings together fossil fuel executives and government ministers.
Before her arrest, Thunberg addressed reporters outside the hotel, saying the world is “drowning in fossil fuels”.
She was among 26 people charged by the Metropolitan Police following the rally.
Wearing a grey T-shirt and blue jeans at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, she denied failing to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act.
Luke Staton, prosecuting, said the energy forum, which ran from Oct 17-19, brought together “various decision-makers and innovators and other stakeholders from energy, finance, and business industries in order to discuss sustainable solutions”.
He added: “On the first day, Oct 17, a large number of protesters attended that location. Police remained aware of this.
“At approximately 7.15am there were stickers and promotional material relating to ‘Fossil Free London’.
“The protesters began taking up positions around the entrance to the hotel, thereby effectively preventing people from coming in and out. Some had managed to climb onto the roof and abseiled down and others sat in the road attempting to block the particular access to that location.
“These defendants are charged in relation to Section 14 conditions ultimately imposed by Supt [Matt] Cox.
“The [protesters] were allowed to continue for approximately five hours until 12.32 pm, where Supt Cox imposed the conditions under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, that condition being the protest must continue on the pavement on the south of InterContinental hotel.”
After failing to move onto the designated protest area, Thunberg and others were subsequently arrested and taken to the police station, the court was told.
The EIF was due to hear from the chief executives of Aramco, Repsol, Shell, TotalEnergies and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.
Supporters of Thunberg laughed from the public gallery as Mr Staton claimed the aim of the conference was to discuss “sustainable solutions”.
They were warned by District Judge John Law to be quiet or they would be removed from court.
Thunberg, of Dorset, appeared in court on Wednesday alongside Joshua Unwin, 31, of Hitchin, Herts; Peter Barker, 59, of Powys; Lars Kebbon, 19, of Dorset; and Jeff Rice, 56, of Nottinghamshire.
They all denied one count of failing to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act.
The five were released on unconditional bail ahead of their trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court on Feb 1 next year.
