Climate activist Greta Thunberg and four other protesters are on trial for refusing to leave a protest that blocked the entrance to an oil and gas industry conference in London.
They are accused of breaching a section of the Public Order Act and have pleaded not guilty.
The protesters oppose fossil fuel companies and the U.K. government’s approval of drilling for oil in the North Sea.
“It seemed like a very deliberate attempt … to prevent access to the hotel for most delegates and the guests,” superintendent Matthew Cox said.
“People were really restricted from having access to the hotel.”
If convicted, they could face fines of up to 2,500 pounds.
Thunberg, known for inspiring a global youth movement demanding stronger efforts to fight climate change, has a history of civil disobedience and was previously fined for similar offenses in Sweden.
