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'On a f*****g gantry!" Just Stop Oil protester's defiant video message as group blocks M25

Watch: Just Stop Oil protester records tearful video message on M25 gantry

A Just Stop Oil protester has made a tearful video appeal from a gantry on the M25 after the climate group blocked parts of the motorway.

The environmental activists forced police to close off several sections of the road, which encircles London, on Monday morning after demonstrators scaled gantries.

Traffic was brought to a standstill by police between a number of junctions of the road. A total of 23 people were arrested.

Just Stop Oil, which wants the government to halt all new fossil fuel licensing and production, posted a video on Twitter recorded by one of its protesters, Louise, 24.

In the video, she says: "I'm here because I don't have a future. And you might hate me for doing this, and you're entitled to hate me, but I wish you would direct all that anger and hatred at our government.

(Just Stop Oil)
A Just Stop Oil protester recorded a tearful message while demonstrating on a gantry on the M25. (Just Stop Oil)
(Just Stop Oil)
The protester said the government must stop the production of fossil fuels. (Just Stop Oil)

"They are betraying young people like me. I wouldn't have to be there if they did their lawful duty to their own citizens.

"Why does it take young people like me – I'm on a f*****g gantry on the M25 – for you to listen?"

She kept filming until police arrived on the scene and blocked off the section of the motorway, causing queues of traffic.

Just Stop Oil went ahead with Monday's action despite a High Court injunction and a major police operation, which resulted in the group's founder reportedly being arrested.

Roger Hallam, who also set up the Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain groups, was reportedly arrested along with two other Just Stop Oil members on Sunday evening.

Read more: Who is Roger Hallam, the leader of Just Stop Oil?

National Highways also secured a High Court injunction to prevent Just Stop Oil protesters disrupting the M25, meaning anyone entering the motorway and fixing themselves to any object or structure on it, and anyone assisting in such an act, can be held in contempt of court. They could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine, and the seizure of assets.

Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter account @SurreyPolice of a Just Stop Oil protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway. Surrey Police said the decision was made to close the road
A Just Stop Oil protester climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey. (PA)

A spokeswoman for Just Stop Oil said on Monday that “action has gone ahead in multiple locations on the M25”.

Surrey Police said officers had decided to shut the road between junctions six and seven for a time as the force’s “protester removal team” dealt with an activist who had climbed onto the motorway gantry.

The force tweeted that it had reports there were also protesters at a number of other locations along the motorway and pledged to “get this resolved as soon as possible”.

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway. Surrey Police said the decision was made to close the road
A Just Stop Oil protester who climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey on Monday. (PA)

Essex Police said arrests were made after reports of people climbing up an overhead gantry close to junction 30 of the M25.

Hertfordshire Police said five people had been arrested after protesters attempted to climb overhead gantries at various junctions.

The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested people on Sunday evening and Monday morning as it launched an operation to identify and arrest climate change protesters suspected of planning “reckless and serious” motorway disruption.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said three people were arrested on Sunday evening who were suspected of planning public disruption.

Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter account @SurreyPolice of officers preparing to remove a Just Stop Oil protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway. Surrey Police said the decision was made to close the road
Police officers preparing to remove a Just Stop Oil protester who climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, (PA)

Shortly before 8am on Monday, the force said it had arrested a further four people for conspiracy to cause public nuisance at an address in south London.

Just Stop Oil has vowed to continue its action, saying it will demonstrate “every day” until the group’s demand for no new oil and gas in the UK is met."

Just Stop Oil staged 32 days of disruption from the end of September and throughout October, which the Met said resulted in 677 arrests with 111 people charged, and officers working a total of 9,438 additional shifts.

The climate change action group has been calling on the government to abandon plans to licence more than 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025, and to do more to help people with their skyrocketing energy bills.

Watch: Just Stop Oil activist climbs on to gantry above M25