A group of student eco-warriors intend to stay the night in the Science Museum to highlight their disgust at their sponsors Shell.
Around 30 UK Student Climate Network activists have been locked inside the South Kensington museum after they snuck in before closing time on Tuesday.
Police have surrounded the students who tried to pin ‘Drop Shell Sponsorship’ banners up in the galleries before being repelled by security guards.
They said: “We intend to stay overnight in protest against the Museum’s sponsorship deals with fossil fuel companies. A vigil is being held outside to commemorate the victims of these sponsors: Shell, BP, Equinor and Adani.”
The group added: “Shell is complicit in the deaths of millions around the world, the victims of the climate crisis that they have caused, both past and future; the activists who dared to stand up to them, to fight for their homes, livelihoods and planet.
“This vigil is to remember everyone who has and will lose their lives to the violence inflicted by Shell and other oil companies.”
Other activists have been holding protests in Exhibition Road in solidarity with the students locked inside.
Extinction Rebellion had criticised the Science Museum for taking funding from Shell for the Our Future Planet exhibition.
Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has also hit out at the Shell sponsorship.
The exhibition explores the technologies being developed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The Science Museum has been approached for comment.
