Climate change group to send 'thousands more rebels' and protest at Heathrow as 'partying' police officers investigated

Extinction Rebellion claim 'thousands more rebels' could descend on London this weekend and threatened to stage protests at Heathrow Airport on Good Friday.

The news comes as the group’s climate change protest hits a fourth day, with more protests expected to cause disruption thousands the Easter Bank Holiday.

Organisers behind the climate change protest, which has brought parts of central London to its knees, say they are prepared to escalate the group’s tactics if their demands ‘are not met’.

Heathrow Airport say they are ‘working with authorities’ to address any threat of protests from the climate change group which could disrupt the airport.

An appeal sent by organisers for activists willing to take part in ‘arrestable action’ at Britain’s busiest airport was posted on WhatsApp.

‘However, the aviation industry needs to be targeted and we are all aware of the deep structural change that needs to come.’

Speaking on Waterloo Bridge, Extinction Rebellion (XR) group co-founder Dr Gail Bradbrook said demonstrators would continue to act despite the first people being charged over the disruption.

The protests have so far seen activists glue themselves to public transport and block bridges and major roads across the capital.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard is ‘investigating officers’ after footage emerged of police dancing with protesters.

On Thursday, the fourth day of protests began with a challenge to Environment Secretary Michael Gove to meet with activists at Parliament Square to find a solution to the issue.

The group said they expected even more people to join the protests, with a statement – which was later deleted – adding: 'Easter Weekend is tomorrow and thousands more rebels will join.

'Police struggle to arrest 350 and there are ten times that number prepared to be arrested.

'The hollowed-out British state is overwhelmed.'

Speaking from Waterloo Bridge, Dr Bradbrook said: 'It (the charges) might put some people off and we escalated our strategy by focusing on the rail infrastructure.

'There’s a key piece of a rebellion where you have to escalate your tactics.”

Dr Bradbrook said Exctinction Rebellion had 'very heated discussions about what’s for the best” in terms of its methods'.

She continued: 'It’s certainly an option that tactics will be escalated if our demands are not met.

Asked about whether key sites like Waterloo Bridge will remain held for two weeks as planned, she said: 'It’s in the hands of the gods really isn’t it? It’s up to whether people respond to the call to come onto the streets.

'More people are joining us all the time. We’re having a fantastic time here.

'It’s how life is meant to be lived with people coming together and actually exerting their political power.'

In a direct clarion call to Mr Gove, the group added: 'We are happy to discuss leaving if you are happy to discuss the climate crisis with us and how we find solutions that focus on principles of fairness and justice.

'Will you come down to Parliament Square and talk with us? Genuine offer.'

It came as police began charging people over the protests in London this week.

According to the latest figures, 428 arrests have been made by the Metropolitan Police since Monday.

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Cathy Eastburn, 51, Mark Ovland, 35, and Luke Watson, 29, are due before magistrates in the capital over their alleged involvement in obstructing trains at Canary Wharf station on Wednesday morning.

British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed the trio have been charged with obstructing trains or carriages on the railway by an unlawful act contrary to Section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.

Eastburn, of Gerards Close in Lambeth, south London, Ovland, of Keinton Mandeville, Somerton, Somerset, and Watson, from Manuden in Essex, are expected to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court later on Thursday.

Some activists glued themselves to a train while others chained themselves to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s garden fence.

Part of Oxford Street continued to be closed off to vehicles on Thursday while a large pink boat – from which a DJ plays music to throngs of supporters – obstructs the main junction with Regent Street.

A mile west, a community of around 100 tents remain at Marble Arch.

An ice cream van also moved in to take advantage of potential customers, while one protester was able to keep an eye out on proceedings from a makeshift treehouse. Swarms of climate protesters swelled on Waterloo Bridge

Commuters walking across the bridge, which is completely closed to traffic, were forced to weave between crowds of demonstrators.

A green sign with the message “Rebel For Life” was unfurled across the width of the road and some demonstrators were also perched on a protest truck parked on the bridge.

Tents were also in place alongside rows of potted plants which the activists had lined up along the road, and music was playing from speakers at the front line of the demo.

A handful of protesters also blocked traffic on one carriageway of Vauxhall Bridge Road on Thursday - a short distance from Parliament Square - forcing some motorcyclists and cyclists to cross onto the opposite carriageway towards oncoming traffic.

Earlier on Thursday, Metropolitan Police Commander Jane Connors said she was 'disappointed' by a video appearing to show officers dancing along with protesters.

Mrs Connors said: 'I’m disappointed by the video and the unacceptable behaviour of the officers in it.'

'We expect our officers to engage with protesters but clearly their actions fall short of the tone of the policing operation at a time when people are frustrated at the actions of the protesters.

'We will be reminding officers of their responsibilities and expectations in policing this operation – however the majority of officers have been working long hours and I am grateful to them for their continued commitment.'