Climate protesters are planning to disrupt the London Underground network on Wednesday on the third day demonstrations in the capital.
Extinction Rebellion is now looking to target the Tube to alert the public of the global warming “crisis” by “disrupting their daily lives”.
More than 200 people were arrested during a second day of climate protests after the group held demonstrations at Parliament Square, Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.
But London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “extremely concerned” about protesters’ plans to disrupt the Underground, and warned the move would “only damage the cause of all of us who want to tackle climate change”.
A statement from Extinction Rebellion said ”economic disruption” is key in “forcing the government to come to the table and negotiate our demands”.
It added: “In any other circumstances we would never dream of disrupting the Tube but this is an emergency.
“The disruption will rapidly increase the longer it continues. This action has also the important effect of alerting the public to crisis by disrupting their daily lives.”
Khan responded: “It is absolutely crucial to get more people using public transport, as well as walking and cycling, if we are to tackle this climate emergency - and millions of Londoners depend on the Underground network to get about their daily lives in our city.
“Targeting public transport in this way would only damage the cause of all of us who want to tackle climate change, as well as risking Londoners’ safety, and I’d implore anyone considering doing so to think again.
“In the meantime, we are working with Transport for London, the British Transport Police, the Metropolitan Police and other emergency services to minimise any disruption for Londoners and to ensure the continued safe operation of the capital’s transport network.”
On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said the protests were causing serious disruption to public transport and local businesses, with 55 bus routes closed and 500,000 people affected.
Motorists faced gridlocked traffic on a number of alternative routes, such as Westminster Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge.
At about 5.45pm, police said 209 people had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations.
The Met warned that demonstrations are expected to continue “throughout the coming weeks”.