Eight arrested after protestors blocked fire engine in the middle of the road

At least eight people have been arrested after activists tried to block a fire engine.

Members of Youth Demand tried to ‘shut down’ the capital to call for an end to arms sales to Israel.

They brought traffic to a standstill around Southwark, with footage showing a fire engine struggling to pass on Saturday.

Around 50 protestors had blocked a roundabout next to Elephant and Castle Underground station, meaning the vehicle couldn’t move until police moved the rally on.

Youth Demand said: ‘Our supporters will get off the road for all emergency vehicles on blue lights.

‘This is part of non-violence for us and is integral for actions.’

They revealed eight of their members had been arrested, and warned of more attempts to shut down London.

The group said: ‘We’ve tried the marches, petitions and rallies for over a year-and-a-half now. It hasn’t worked.

‘The government only cares about disruption. That’s why we are shutting London down day after day. There is no time to lose, two million Palestinians are starving.

‘They are being pushed into smaller and smaller death zones in Gaza.

‘Business-as-usual enables this genocide, so we have a duty to shut it down. We must resist.’

The Metropolitan police said: ‘Youth Demand have stated an intention to “shut down” London over the month of April using tactics including “swarming” and roadblocks.

‘While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality.’

On Thursday protesters formed a road block on Buckingham Palace Road in central London, one using a megaphone and another holding a Palestinian flag.

But the block didn’t last long as at least three people grabbed the protesters and dragged them out of the road.

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