Police charge five Extinction Rebellion activists including accounts worker, 35, and 83-year-old grandfather after protesters caused chaos by climbing onto and gluing themselves to trains
- British Transport Police moved quickly to bring charges against XR activists
- Three men and two women have already been charged over Tube protests
- Mark Ovland who stood on a train at Canning Town is among those charged
Five people have been charged over yesterday’s Tube protests by Extinction Rebellion activists.
The three men and two women, arrested in connection with the protests at Canning Town and Shadwell stations, will appear in court today.
A further three men arrested at either Canning Town or Stratford have been bailed ‘under strict conditions’, British Transport Police said.
Yesterday as Extinction Rebellion’s eco-protest entered its 11th day activists launched a co-ordinated strike on three London Underground stations, clambering on top of carriages and gluing themselves to doors despite Monday’s city-wide ban issued by the Met Police.
But their efforts to disrupt public transport were met with a furious backlash from commuters, industry groups and politicians leading one XR spokesman to admit the move had been a ‘huge own goal’.
Video surfaced from Canning Town station of a protester seemingly being beaten and kicked by angry workers on the station platform having been dragged bodily from the top of a train.
British Transport Police said today that four people will appear at court this morning charged in connection to the incident at Shadwell DLR station.
They are: Margreit Bos, 32 of Chartham, Kent; Martin Newell, 52 of Birmingham; Philip Kingston, 83 of Patchway; and Sue Parfitt, 77 of Bristol.
Buddhist trainee teacher Mark Ovland (left in left picture, and right) has been charged after scrambling atop a tube at Canning Town yesterday
They have each been charged with obstructing an engine or carriage on the railway contrary to Section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act and will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court this morning.
One of the men arrested at Canning Town will also appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates corner today.
Mark Ovland, 36 of Keinton Mandeville, was charged with breaching bail conditions.
A second man, aged 35 and from Filton, South Gloucestershire was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the railway and has been bailed with strict conditions, pending further enquiries.
The police added that ‘enquiries continue in relation to the obstruction incident’.
At Stratford two men aged 32 from Lewisham and Hull were arrested for obstructing the railway. They have been bailed with strict conditions, while further enquiries continue.