Police wield batons during XR’s London Bridge bus blockade

Move on ninth day of latest protest campaign appears to mark change in use of force against the group

Police in London wielded batons and threw punches against Extinction Rebellion protesters as they battled to gain control of an open-top bus blocking London Bridge on Tuesday, in a step-change in their use of force against the group.

On the ninth day of XR's latest protest campaign, the Guardian witnessed officers from the Metropolitan police climb the sides of the bus parked across the junction at the south of the bridge, striking and wrestling with protesters.