Climate group to ‘take stock’ after Tube trouble

Activist pulled to the ground from top of train by furious commuters

Extinction Rebellion (XR) organisers will “take stock” over whether to continue with future disruption to the transport network after an activist was dragged to the ground from the top of a Tube train amid ugly scenes in east London during yesterday morning’s rush hour.

Furious commuters at a crowded Canning Town station lobbed drinks at one protester before he was yanked from the train to the platform floor, much to the apparent delight of the cheering horde.

Video shared on social media showed protesters holding a sign which read “Business as usual = death”, while the activist pulled to the floor appeared to kick out at the commuter who pulled him down.

British Transport Police confirmed eight people had been arrested on suspicion of obstructing the railway and also urged commuters not to “take matters into their own hands”.

A member of Transport for London (TfL) staff appeared to intervene to stop people from attacking the male XR activist further. One man yelled “I need to get to work, I have to feed my kids”, while others shouted insults at activists. It was one of a number of stunts across the capital, although service across the network later returned to normal.

XR spokesman Howard Rees, 39, said: “Was it the right thing to do? I am not sure. I think we will have to have a period of reflection. It is too early to say. I think we need to take stock of it.”

Mr Rees, a PR worker from London, said the intention was not to “inconvenience hard-working people”, and said he did not think the stunt was counter-productive and should not have gone ahead.

He said: “It is not our intention to target individuals or inconvenience hard-working people. We’re in a life or death situation right now. The only thing the government is interested in is money, so that’s why the transport system was targeted.

“If you’re causing disruption but people are impacted, it is nothing compared with the disruption that is coming down the line, let me tell you.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned yesterday morning’s protest, calling it “an unfair burden on our already overstretched police officers”.

Picture: PA. A protester is led away by police outside the Supreme Court, London, during a climate change demo.