Emergency vehicles blocked by Just Stop Oil protest in west London rush hour

A fire engine and ambulance were among the vehicles caught in a blockade by Just Stop Oil protesters in west London which the government has said is “unacceptable”.

Videos shared online showed the emergency vehicles on blue lights unable to get through the traffic after around 32 protesters blocked three roads in Knightsbridge and Brompton Road.

The protesters stopped traffic from travelling in either direction, with some gluing themselves to the asphalt.

One video showed a stationary fire engine in the middle of a junction near Knightsbridge Underground station, with protesters blocking both the road behind and in front of it.

Just Stop Oil later tweeted a video showing protesters moving out of the way of a fire engine with the caption: “Just Stop Oil supporters pause roadblock to let fire engine through.”

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “An appliance from Kensington Fire Station was temporarily stopped by a road block and arrived within 14 minutes of being called.”

This is the group’s 11th consecutive day of disruption in London with protesters demanding the government halt all new oil and gas licences and consents.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “These sorts of protests which disrupt people’s daily lives or indeed can stop our emergency services from potentially saving lives are unacceptable.

“That’s why we’ve already toughened powers for the police, we’ve given them new powers to act and we are also taking further powers through the House at the moment to ensure they can go even further in preventing these individuals from disrupting people’s lives.”

Asked whether members of the public should intervene to remove protesters, the spokesman said that while the government “can understand the public’s frustrations with their lives being disrupted in this way” it is “for the police to respond in the first instance to these sorts of protests”.

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: “Just Stop Oil policy, is and always has been, to let blue light emergency services through.

“It was reported this morning that emergency services were blocked in Knightsbridge. In reality one of our supporters directed an ambulance away from the road block and our supporters left the road to allow the fire engine to pass.

“The public are right to be upset, frustrated, irritated and angry – their lives have been disrupted.

“The government can stop this today, by making a meaningful statement to end new oil and gas in the UK.”