In London this morning, a protest event associated with a fossil-fuel boycott led to the detention of Greta Thunberg by British police. The action occurred near a luxury hotel where several executives from major oil companies were staying, according to organizers and corroborating reports from attendees at the scene.
The organization Fossil-free London claimed responsibility for confirming the arrest via a post on its social media account. The message appeared as officers escorted Thunberg to a police vehicle, a scene captured by bystanders and later echoed across coverage of the event.
Earlier communications from the same group had highlighted Thunberg’s involvement in the rally, sharing portions of her remarks in which the 20-year-old activist from Sweden challenged the political and corporate elite to accelerate an ecological transition. The posts urged supporters to take direct action and to reclaim power through organized civic engagement, a framing often used by climate activism campaigns to mobilize participation.
The protest occurred on the opening day of the Energy Intelligence Forum, an industry gathering that attracts senior leaders from the global energy sector. Media sources cited credits from BBC reporting that Shell and Total were among the companies expected to participate or feature prominently in discussions surrounding energy policy and corporate strategies during the forum.
This incident adds to a longer pattern of Thunberg’s interactions with law enforcement during environmental demonstrations. She has faced multiple detentions linked to protests in various countries, including a mid-January arrest in Germany during a march opposing mining activity, followed by a separate arrest weeks later in March amid demonstrations in Norway focused on Indigenous Sami community rights.
Recently, a Swedish court imposed a civil-disobedience related fine on Thunberg, ordering a daily penalty of 90 Swedish krona for a total that reached roughly 400 euros over a specified period. The decision, announced within the Swedish judicial system, reflects ongoing legal processes that often accompany high-profile climate protests.