The British Museum has been closed this afternoon after eco-zealots and pro-Palestine activists join forces to block entry to the historic building.
A new alliance between pro-Palestine groups and those linked to Just Stop Oil – called Energy Embargo for Palestine – targeted the historic building on Russell Street in the capital at around 2.15pm.
The museum initially said the museum was evacuated but have since said those who arrived into the building before 3pm have been able to continue their visit.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the museum’s main entrance on Russell Street and held up a banner which read: ‘Sponsored by BP = sponsored by colonial genocide’.
There were also Palestine flags on display as the demonstrators chanted, ‘shut down BP’ and ‘if you partner wit BP, we’ll shut you down’.
Hundreds of protesters blocked the entrance to the museum from 2.15pm today
The banner held up by the protesters reads: ‘Sponsored by BP = sponsored by colonial genocide’
The Metropolitan Police are at the scene of the protest on Russell Street
The protesters had expected to stage a sit in demonstration in the museum’s lobby but it appears they did not get inside the building
Energy Embargo for Palestine posted on X, formerly Twitter, that they were outside the British Museum just before 3pm today.
They wrote: ‘After the police and museum have collaborated to blocked the public from going into the museum today, we have staged a protest outside!
‘During Israel’s ongoing genocidal siege on Gaza, BP was given the green light to search for gas in occupied Palestinian waters. BP is also fuelling the Zionist war machine through its imperialist production and export of Azerbaijani oil to Israeli.
‘As part of the Free Palestine Coalition’s month of action, hundreds of people have united outside the British Museum to demand an end to the museum’s partnership with BP.’
Earlier today, MailOnline revealed the new group planned to hold a sit-in at the main courtyard of the museum in the Bloomsbury area of the capital, according to posts on the encrypted app Signal.
It appears the protesters did not make it into the lobby and decided protest just outside the entrance.
They are targeting the British Museum because of its sponsorship with British Petroleum (BP).
A briefing note sent to protestors, obtained by Mail Online, outlines its action and urges those taking part to provide no comment to police and to not provide any personal details.
It also tells protestors to not accept a duty solicitor if arrested.
The note says: ‘We are returning to the British Museum to take action against their new 10-year contract with mega-conglomerate British Petroleum, which was granted licences for gas exploration off the coast of Gaza by the Zionist entity on October 30th.
‘We will be occupying the main courtyard and have teach-outs/speeches. We are aiming to occupy the space for at least 2.5 hours, preferably longer, as staying past closing time will provide an extra element of disruption.
‘Our action is in response to the call issued by the Palestinian-led Global Energy Embargo for Palestine to disrupt the energy flow to Israel and pressure institutions to cut ties with energy companies that own and invest in Israeli oil and gas reserves.’
It adds: ‘You will need to start arriving at the British Museum at 14.15 this is to account for long lines.
‘If you are any later than this you might not be able to enter the museum before the disruption, previously, the BM shut down the museum during our action, if this happens again you will not be able to join. SO BE ON TIME PLEASE!
‘Aim to be in the museum courtyard at 14.45 – 15:00! Until then please don’t hang out in large groups or near people who you think are there for the disruption, keep an eye out on your surroundings and don’t talk about the action in the line or in the BM, also don’t act anxious when going through security.’
It adds: ‘Wear masks throughout the action, you may choose to not wear a mask when going through security but it is compulsory to wear a mask during the action itself!
‘If you need the toilet aim to go before 14.30. If you need the toilet during the action speak to a member of the welfare team, they will be identifiable with a taped cross on their backpack.
‘When the action starts please follow directions given to you. We will stage a sit-in in the courtyard. We will sit in two semi-circle rows around the large banner in the centre.’
The memo, which was obtained by MailOnline, urges protesters to be punctual
Hundreds of people were invited to the protest at the British Museum
The pro-Palestine and environmental protestors are expected to arrive at the museum (pictured) at 2.15pm
It says it is not expecting arrests but it says they ‘may never know how the police respond’.
It ends by saying: ‘PLEASE place any Palestine or protest related materials well concealed onto your body and not in your bag – bag searches are in operation, and security might clock on that something’s up if things are found in multiple people’s bags.
‘Please ensure these are hidden under your clothes or on your person. As this was a semi-secure callout security may already be aware that we will be coming, in that case our objective is still to prepare ourselves as if they don’t know and take all precautions.’
The Metropolitan Police and the British Museum have been made aware of the planned protest.
Energy Embargo for Palestine previously protested at the British Museum on February 11.
Carrying banners, Palestinian flags and shouting ‘from the belly of the beast, hands off the middle east’, the protestors called on museum executives to ‘drop BP now’.
The British Museum in December confirmed it was extending its 27-year-long partnership with BP by another decade in a deal worth £50million.
The petrol firm’s money is expected to help fund the overhaul of the museum’s Bloomsbury site.
A British Museum spokesperson said: ‘The British Museum respects other people’s right to express their views and allows peaceful protest onsite at the Museum as long as there is no risk to the collection, staff or visitors.’
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk