(CNN) London commuters dragged climate change protesters off the top of trains on Thursday morning, as clashes broke out between peak-hour passengers and activists who disrupted travel in the British capital.

Protesters from the global environmental movement Extinction Rebellion climbed onto carriages and glued themselves to trains, bringing parts of the city's transport network to a grinding halt.

Demonstrators, who are intent on forcing government action on ecological breakdown, hung a black banner in the east London station of Canning Town that read: "Business as usual = Death."

With trains stopped at the station, angry commuters soon took action into their own hands. Videos on social media showed a large crowd shouting at a protester on top of a train and throwing objects at him, before a commuter grabbed his ankles and dragged him off the roof. The crowd below surged forward into a physical altercation, which ended only after station staff and other passengers intervened.

Bit of fun at Canning Town this morning pic.twitter.com/N15hykImlF — Charlie (@CharWilkoo) October 17, 2019

Four people have been arrested so far due to the "obstruction incidents at Stratford and Canning Town," according to the British Transport Police (BPT).

Read More