Arrests made as anti-HS2 campaigners continue protest

Police have arrested anti-HS2 railway protesters involved with occupying acentral London park as other activists remained in a 100-foot network oftunnels dug underground.

At least three activists were handcuffed forapparently breaching coronavirus regulations at the scene in Euston SquareGardens on Thursday morning.

The HS2 Rebellion campaigners, including veteranenvironmental activist Swampy, claim the small green space near Euston Stationwill be built over with a temporary taxi rank before being sold to developersas part of plans for the high-speed railway.

Bailiffs from the nationaleviction team, a subsidiary of the High Court Enforcement (HCE) group, beganevicting protesters on Wednesday and continued to take down the makeshift campon Thursday.

The HCE group said on Wednesday evening its team was adopting a“safety-led” approach to removing activists and it would “take time, carefulplanning and the work of skilled personnel to resolve the situation in a safeand controlled manner”.

One of those evicted was also among three men arrestedby police officers on Thursday morning after allegedly breaking Covid-19restrictions.