EXTINCTION Rebellion has vowed to shut down London City Airport for three days starting this morning.

The group has announced it will "peacefully occupy" the airport ‘Hong Kong style’, as it maintains its grip on the capital.

11 Nursing mothers with their children block Whitehall during protests yesterday Credit: PA:Press Association

11 Benedict Cumberbatch sat with Extinction Rebellion protesters last night at Trafalgar Square

11 The Sherlock Holmes actor chats with a protester who is handcuffed to a hearse

11 One of the fountains at Trafalgar Square started to overflow in the middle of the night Credit: Extinction Rebellion

11 The protesters tried to stop the water from reaching their tents with sandbags

Police said by 6.50pm last night a total of 800 people have been arrested since protests started on Monday.

Nearly 400 protesters plan to move from the various sights they have been occupying since Monday, and set off for the airport by 7.30am this morning.

They plan to set up a 'Hong Kong' style barricade around the police line checking the boarding passes.

Organisers have told eco-warriors to "do whatever you have to" to make a human barricade, adding "super glue, cable ties and lock-ons are welcome".

The group has added that if they don't get into the airport they will occupy the DLR station, the pavement and the road outside.

Today's chaos comes after Extinction Rebellion protesters camping last night at Trafagalar Square were joined by Sherlock Homes actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

The actor was seen chatting with a man who was handcuffed inside a hearse as he was snapped with other eco-warriors enduring the chilly night.

Extinction Rebellion protesters at the Trafalgar Square site rushed to stop overflowing water from one of the fountains using sandbags.

A spokesperson from the group told The Sun Online they didn't know why water was rushing out of the fountain.

Yesterday, the group released a statement about their airport occupation and said: "Protest targets the continued Government support for expansion of air travel, which benefits the rich and punishes the poor, in the face of the Climate and Ecological Emergency."

Adding: "In the biggest mass participation action of the International Rebellion, the Fly Today, No Tomorrow action will involve a ‘Hong Kong style’ occupation of the terminal building, lying, sitting or glueing-on in front of the departure and arrivals gates.

"Hundreds of participants have already signed up to nonviolently use their bodies to close the airport, and are willing to sacrifice their liberty to achieve this aim.

"City Airport is being targeted to highlight the incompatibility of its planned £2bn expansion with addressing the Climate and Ecological Emergency declared by Parliament or meeting the Government’s legally binding commitment to go net carbon neutral by 2050.

"Airport expansion such as this and the proposed third runway at Heathrow will make it impossible to meet this commitment, resulting in dire consequences as the Emergency worsens."

Those who turn up will have enough food and supplies to last for three days, the group claims.

TAKING ON LONDON

A London City Airport spokesperson said: “We continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police to prepare for the threat of Extinction Rebellion protests. Our shared priority is the safe operation of the airport and to minimise disruption for passengers using the airport over the coming days.

“All passengers travelling for the remainder of this week will be required to show their boarding pass to access the terminal. We’d like to thank passengers in advance for their patience, and recommend that they check the status of their flights with their airline, before travelling to the airport.

“Climate change is a global challenge and we remain committed to building a more sustainable future for the airport and the aviation industry, ensuring that we are playing our part in meeting the UK’s 2050 carbon objectives.”

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of London at 10am on October 7 - the group say the demonstrations will last until the Brit government takes "meaningful and decisive action" on the climate emergency.

The group's website states: "Starting Monday October 7, for 2 weeks, Extinction Rebellion and allied movements will gather in major cities across the globe and continue to rebel against the world’s governments for their criminal inaction on the Climate and Ecological Crisis."

Trafalgar Square - Department For International Trade, Department for International Develpment at Whitehall Place: Burning Earth, from October 7 to October 19, including "artistic representations of waters running red, burning Amazon forests, and extinct animals tell an emotional story of loss. We will turn the tourist and cultural attraction of Trafalgar Square into a place of truth"

Burning Earth, from October 7 to October 19, including "artistic representations of waters running red, burning Amazon forests, and extinct animals tell an emotional story of loss. We will turn the tourist and cultural attraction of Trafalgar Square into a place of truth" Victoria Embankment - Ministry of Defence: XR Peace, October 7 to October 19, a roadblock including "workshops, teach-ins and exhibitions, choirs, musicians, comedians, academics, story tellers and speakers making the links between nuclear weapons, militarism and the climate emergency"

XR Peace, October 7 to October 19, a roadblock including "workshops, teach-ins and exhibitions, choirs, musicians, comedians, academics, story tellers and speakers making the links between nuclear weapons, militarism and the climate emergency" Parliament Square - Cabinet office, Department for Exiting the European Union, No. 10 & 11 Downing Street, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for Digital Culture and Sport, HM Revenue and Customs, Treasury, Northern Ireland Office: Beyond Politics, from October 7 to October 20, another "round the clock" traffic block with "a full-scale festival of creative resistance, with people’s assemblies, art actions, stage performances, talks, workshops, food and family spaces" and Love Rebellion, where Horse Guards Rd, Birdcage Walk and an entrance to Downing St were occupied by 300 rebels "dancing in the street"

Beyond Politics, from October 7 to October 20, another "round the clock" traffic block with "a full-scale festival of creative resistance, with people’s assemblies, art actions, stage performances, talks, workshops, food and family spaces" and Love Rebellion, where Horse Guards Rd, Birdcage Walk and an entrance to Downing St were occupied by 300 rebels "dancing in the street" Westminster Bridge - Portcullis House and Palace of Westminster: The Beacon, from October 7 to October 19, a march from Trafalgar Square to Westminster Bridge expressing "olidarity, connection and compassion towards the people and species on the edge of destruction, the march will feature art, talks and performances"

The Beacon, from October 7 to October 19, a march from Trafalgar Square to Westminster Bridge expressing "olidarity, connection and compassion towards the people and species on the edge of destruction, the march will feature art, talks and performances" Victoria Tower Gardens, Palace of Westminster: Global Justice, from October 7 to October 20, "a fortnight of music, talks, art and struggle as we celebrate the frontline communities of resistance that are the fighting forces of the world"

Global Justice, from October 7 to October 20, "a fortnight of music, talks, art and struggle as we celebrate the frontline communities of resistance that are the fighting forces of the world" Victoria Street, St Anne's Street - Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care: Power in Truth, a roadblock outside of BEIS including tents and gazeebos

Power in Truth, a roadblock outside of BEIS including tents and gazeebos Marsham Street - Home Office, Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government: We Are All Crew, from October 7 to October 20 featuring " a main stage powered exclusively by sunlight. There will be a varied programme of inspiring talks, rebel storytelling, interactive street performances, an arts factory, live bands and DJs and much more"

We Are All Crew, from October 7 to October 20 featuring " a main stage powered exclusively by sunlight. There will be a varied programme of inspiring talks, rebel storytelling, interactive street performances, an arts factory, live bands and DJs and much more" Lambeth Bridge, Global Food and Justice: Global Food and Justice from October 7 to October 20, "food justice means that everyone, everywhere has enough good healthy food that is produced without destroying the planet"

Global Food and Justice from October 7 to October 20, "food justice means that everyone, everywhere has enough good healthy food that is produced without destroying the planet" St John's Smith Square - Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs: Rewilding North

Rewilding North Smith Square, October 13 - music and other performances

- music and other performances The Mall, from October 7 to October 20 - According to the event details, "showcase and explore the positive choices, innovations and community connections we can and must make in our society in order to turn climate and ecological collapse into an opportunity for a better world. Expect family-friendly activities and workshops, dance and live performances. Get your voice heard at one of our People’s Assemblies"

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By 9.30pm on day one police had arrested 280 activists and PM Boris Johnson branded the eco-warriors “importunate nose-ringed climate change protesters”.

The National Police Chiefs' Council said 500 officers are being drafted in from across England and Wales, with police being sent from all the 10 regional organised crime units that cover the two countries.

Yesterday,elderly protesters were arrested outside Downing Street, with people carried and led out of the main road in Whitehall while onlookers sang and shouted "we love you".

Tents remained on some of the roads in the area, and mothers staged a mass breastfeeding near Parliament before marching on Downing Street.

11 The actor sat with the protesters in the cold on the third night of demonstrations

11 The protest group will shut down the London airport from tomorrow for three days

11 Protesters in Trafalgar Square as Extinction Rebellion causes chaos in London once more Credit: PA:Press Association

11 A number of protesters have been removed from areas they have occupied Credit: PA:Press Association

11 London City Airport is the next target for the Extinction Rebellion protesters

11 Thousands of people have joined the protests this week in London Credit: AFP or licensors

More than 500 arrested as Extinction Rebellion protestors block roads in Westminster, meditate in Whitehall and dance in Trafalgar Square

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