February 1, 2024 15:09
Greta Thunberg skips to court
Greta Thunberg was filmed skipping outside court during a break in her eco-protest trial.
She and a group of men and women were walking across the road, but when she came out of the courtroom during a suspension of proceedings, the complete skip began.
The 21-year-old from Sweden is on trial after being arrested on October 17 during a demonstration near the Intercontinental Hotel in Mayfair where oil executives were gathering indoors for the Energy Intelligence Forum.
She received a “final warning” from police to move to a designated protest area during a demonstration in central London last year before being detained for remaining in place, a court heard.
Greta Thunberg is on trial.
Photo: Alamy
Ms Thunberg, two Fossil Free London (FFL) protesters and two Greenpeace activists were arrested at Westminster security on Thursday after each pleading not guilty to breaching section 14 of the Security Act 1986. He appeared in the magistrate’s court and appeared for trial.
The court heard protesters began gathering near the hotel at around 7.30am and police liaised with them about improving access for the public, which had been “impossible”.
Prosecutor Luke Staton said several protesters gained access to the roof just before 10:30 a.m. and “slowly rappelled down the side of the building.”
Greta Thunberg (second from left) arrives at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, where she will be charged with public order offenses along with four other activists.
Photo: Alamy
Protesters outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London. Last year, activist Greta Thunberg and four other activists were charged with breaching the peace during protests in central London.
Photo: Alamy
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Section 14 conditions were imposed at around 12.30pm and say protests can only continue on the footpath south of the hotel.
Police judged the measure to be “necessary” to prevent disorder as the “vast majority” of people inside the hotel were unable to exit and others were not allowed inside.
From 1pm, officers spoke to individual protesters and informed them of Section 14 conditions.
The court heard Thunberg was standing outside the hotel entrance when police approached her and informed her of the situation and the designated protest area.
Mr Staton told the court that he was warned by an officer that he would be arrested if he did not comply.
Prosecutors said that while the officer was on duty elsewhere, another officer spoke with Thunberg and “gave her a final warning.”
“She claimed she stayed where she was, so she was arrested,” Staton said.
The other defendants were similarly informed of the Section 14 conditions but did not move to the designated protest area, the court said.
Mr Staton said: “The Crown’s case is that all five defendants took part in a public assembly.
“They knew, or should have known, that a section 14 condition was imposed, but all failed to comply with that condition.”
Thunberg arrived at the courthouse just after 9 a.m. and was greeted by a large yellow banner reading “Climate Protesting Is Not a Crime” and another reading “Climate Protesting Is Not a Crime”. They passed media and environmental activists holding cardboard placards and demonstrating “in solidarity” with the defendants. Who is the real culprit? ”
Wearing a gray jacket, Thunberg smiled at photographers before heading inside.
The trial continues, scheduled to last two days.