ENVIRONMENTAL protesters disrupted sections of England’s busiest motorway today despite a major Metropolitan Police operation aimed at stopping them.

 
Just Stop Oil activists forced sections of the M25 to be closed during the morning rush hour as activists climbed gantries above the road and unfurled banners. 
 
A spokesperson for the group said: “Action has gone ahead in multiple locations on the M25.”

The demonstrations coincided with the Cop27 climate conference taking place in Egypt.
 
Just Stop Oil  is pressing the government to abandon plans to license over 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025, warning that they will fuel climate change and kill people.
 
Protester Louise, 24, shared a video on Twitter of her on one of the gantries above the M25. 

She said: “You might hate me for doing this. And you’re entitled to hate me.

“But I wish you would direct all of that anger and hatred at our government. 

“They are betraying young people like me. I wouldn’t have to be there if they did their lawful duty to their own citizens.
 
“I’m part of the Just Stop Oil coalition demanding an end to all new oil and gas licences in the UK. 

“What we’re asking for is what all the scientists are asking for.

“How many more people have to say we don’t have a liveable future if you continue licensing oil and gas for you to listen. 

“Why does it take young people like me up on a f****** gantry on the M25 for you to listen?”
 
The Metropolitan Police said it had made arrests on Sunday evening and this morning as part of an operation to identify and arrest climate activists suspected of planning the motorway disruption.
 
Three people suspected of planning public disruption were arrested on Sunday, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said. 

The force said that another four had been arrested at 8am today at an address in south London for alleged conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
 
All the arrests were for suspected offences under the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.

Campaign group Liberty has previously criticised the legislation for “stifling our freedom to protest and setting a dangerous precedent for the future.”
 
Just Stop Oil vowed to continue to demonstrate every day until the government meets its demand of ceasing to grant new oil and gas licences.