Now the ‘youth wing’ of Just Stop Oil plots chaos on Tube
HUNDREDS of young eco-zealots and pro-Palestine activists are plotting to wreak havoc on the London Underground this week, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
In a bid to cripple the network, the co-ordinated attacks would see them flood into central Tube stations and block train carriages, causing chaos for commuters and tourists.
In an echo of the environmental protests which block major roads, many of those involved are willing to remain in place until arrested and hauled away by police.
The plans for tomorrow and Wednesday were unveiled last week in an online meeting of Youth Demand, a new wing of Just Stop Oil (JSO) which was infiltrated by an undercover MoS reporter.
Its leader, Pippa Cowtan, 21, a London-based politics graduate, told activists they were targeting the public transport system because police have cracked down on protesters blocking roads.
She said those involved should meet at Victoria Embankment Gardens before descending on Tube stations en masse.
‘For those who will be getting arrested, that will be happening around 2pm to 2.30pm,’ Ms Cowtan said. ‘On Wednesday, again we’re going to be marching. Arrests 2pm to 2.30pm.’
Ms Cowtan said the group would be willing to call off the Tube chaos if police allowed them to march on the roads instead.
‘We don’t want people getting arrested who don’t want to be arrested,’ she said. ‘If the police are willing to facilitate us marching on the roads then we will march on the roads.’
With a smirk, she added: ‘So for any police officers who might be listening, if you want to let us march on the road to avoid hundreds of people getting on the Tube, that would be brilliant.’
Politicians called on police to use the full force of the law against the mob. Tory MP Nigel Mills said: ‘This is disgraceful. They are holding the police to ransom.
‘It’s essentially blackmail. The police should not heed any of these pathetic demands and take firm action against any law breakers.’
This newspaper previously revealed a sinister plot by JSO to ‘occupy’ MPs’ homes and plans to target airports this summer.
The group’s leaders have said they are plotting a ‘political revolution’ to target the super-rich and bring down capitalism, rather than tackling climate issues.
JSO has joined forces with ultraLeft groups and pro-Palestinian protesters. Activists cited Lenin at a meeting last month as they pledged to fight the ‘ruling class’ by breaking out of the ‘climate movement bubble’.
They announced plans to occupy banks and orchestrate rent strikes, in which tenants would refuse to pay landlords.
They will also back candidates at the next general election and have said they plan to start a new system of government to take over when the current one ‘fails’.
Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector Dominic Nye said: ‘We are working with British Transport Police and Transport For London on a robust policing plan to minimise disruption. Despite meeting with us earlier this year, they [JSO] have not engaged with us. Officers will use a full range of powers.’