Five charged over Extinction Rebellion Tube protests
Five people have been charged following climate change protests at three London Tube stations.
Some of the activists were dragged from the roof of trains by commuters at Stratford, Canning Town and Shadwell during Thursday's rush hour. Two men and two women have been charged with obstructing a train at Shadwell. One man has been charged with breaching bail conditions over the Canning Town protest. All five appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Friday. Margreit Bos, 32, of Parish Road, Chartham, Kent, Martin Newell, 52, of Ivor Road, Birmingham, Philip Kingston, 83, of Blakeney Road, Patchway, South Gloucestershire, and Sue Parfitt, 77, of Rectory Gardens, Bristol, have each been charged with obstructing an engine or carriage on the railway contrary to Section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act. Mark Ovland, 36, of High Street, Keinton Mandeville, Somerset, has been charged with breaching bail conditions. A second man, 35, from Filton, South Gloucestershire, who was arrested at Canning Town on suspicion of obstructing the railway has been bailed while inquiries continue. Two other men, both aged 32 and from Lewisham and Kingston Upon Hull, were arrested at Stratford station for obstructing the railway. They have also been bailed while inquiries continue. London mayor Sadiq Khan has "strongly" condemned Thursday's protests. British Transport Police has urged anyone with information or video footage of the disruptions to come forward. A public order ban has been put in place on Extinction Rebellion activities in London since Monday. At the High Court a judge has refused the request to hear Extinction Rebellion's appeal against the ban early. The group wanted a hearing before the scheduled end of the protest on Saturday.