Female HS2 protestor, 17, to appear in court after being arrested on leaving Euston station tunnels

A 17-year-old girl is set to appear in court tomorrow morning after she was arrested as she left a network of secret tunnels near Euston Station.

A number of activists from the HS2 Rebellion Group have now spent 12 days in the elaborate underground network to protest the £98billion HS2 project.

The first to leave the site was a teenager aged 17 who was arrested near the site on Friday.

Tomorrow she will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court over a breach of existing bail conditions.

Workers clear debris from a camp set up at Euston Station demanding a stop to the HS2 project

A spokesman from HS2 Ltd said on Friday night a demonstrator had been detained after she voluntarily left the tunnel.

The spokesman added the safety of protesters, HS2 staff and emergency services personnel was of “paramount importance” and that it was doing “all we can to end this illegal action safely”.

He reiterated calls for activists to exit the tunnels “as soon as possible”.

Last night a second protestor, Lazer Sandford, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass after also leaving the tunnel system.

The 20-year-old had locked himself in place underground using a metal device encased in concrete as he refused bailiffs’ requests to leave the tunnel.

A security guard stands at the entrance of a makeshift camp set up by HS2 Rebellion protestors

A security guard stands at the entrance of a makeshift camp set up by HS2 Rebellion protestors

Lazer Sandford was the second to leave the tunnels after several days underground as part of the protests

Lazer Sandford was the second to leave the tunnels after several days underground as part of the protests

A spokesman for the HS2 Rebellion group said Mr Sandford left in exchange for supplies including hygiene and sanitary products and lights for the remaining demonstrators.

A 23-year-old man was also arrested under the Health Protection Regulations.

HS2 Rebellion has called on the Government to scrap the ‘expensive, unpopular and destructive’ railway scheme and claims plans will see Euston Square Gardens built over with a temporary taxi rank before being sold to developers.

The group has claimed that the protest in Euston is the ‘longest UK protest tunnel occupation in two decades’, breaking the ten-day record previously set by a pair of environmental campaigners in Derbyshire in 2008.

Other activists in the tunnels include veteran environmental campaigner Swampy, real name Daniel Hooper, and his son Rory.

 

 

 

An anti-HS2 eco-warrior has been taken into police custody after voluntarily leaving a network of tunnels they secretly dug below Euston Square Gardens. 

Lazer Sandford, the son of an island-owning millionaire Scottish laird, was one of six activists who have spent 11 days underground to protest the £98billion HS2 project.

The demonstrator had previously locked himself in place underground using a device made of steel and concrete wrapped around his arm to stop bailiffs dragging him away.

HS2 Rebellion protestor was seen in handcuffs after leaving the series of tunnels the group secretly dug near Euston station tonight

HS2 Rebellion protestor was seen in handcuffs after leaving the series of tunnels the group secretly dug near Euston station tonight

He later threw a peace sign to a watching crowd as he was led away from the entrance to the tunnel

He later threw a peace sign to a watching crowd as he was led away from the entrance to the tunnel

A spokesman for the HS2 Rebellion group said Mr Sandford left in exchange for supplies including hygiene and sanitary products and lights for the remaining demonstrators.

He added Lazer was being checked by paramedics.

A statement from the activist said: ‘Eleven days in a tunnel and 30 hours in a lockon were painful, but that’s nothing compared with the current and coming suffering caused by the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

‘As the UK’s most Ecocidal project, HS2 is accelerating the climate and ecological emergency, through unprecedented tree felling and roughly 14 million tonnes of CO2.

‘I was inspired to do this by my dear friend Fox who died tragically a year ago today fighting for what he believed in. He was an inspiration to countless people who want to mend the world.

‘Me and my tunnelling friends are choosing to protect lives by means of protest.’

Mr Sandford’s departure comes after one of the demonstrators voluntarily left the tunnels and was arrested on Friday evening.

Lazer is pictured during his 11-day stay underground, which is said to have ended in exchange for goods for the remaining protestors

Lazer is pictured during his 11-day stay underground, which is said to have ended in exchange for goods for the remaining protestors

A lone supporter of the protestor stood by the police shield, close to the entrance to the tunnel near Euston station

A lone supporter of the protestor stood by the police shield, close to the entrance to the tunnel near Euston station 

Lazer locked his arm into a metal device to stop bailiffs taking him away from the secret tunnels

Lazer locked his arm into a metal device to stop bailiffs taking him away from the secret tunnels

A HS2 Ltd spokesman said: ‘A second illegal trespasser chose to leave the tunnel this evening, and we urge the others to follow.

‘On-site paramedics provided immediate medical assistance. The trespasser has now been handed over to the Metropolitan Police.’

Roc Sandford, father of Lazer and fellow tunnel protester 18-year-old Blue Sandford, previously said he was ‘scared and distressed’ as their parent but was ‘right behind them’ and understood ‘exactly why they know they have to do this’.

Commenting on the tunnellers he told the PA news agency on Friday: ‘I am in awe of all of those incredibly brave spirits down there, not just my children, but all of them.’

HS2 Rebellion has called on the Government to scrap the ‘expensive, unpopular and destructive’ railway scheme and claims plans will see Euston Square Gardens built over with a temporary taxi rank before being sold to developers.

The group has claimed that the protest in Euston is the ‘longest UK protest tunnel occupation in two decades’, breaking the ten-day record previously set by a pair of environmental campaigners in Derbyshire in 2008.

Other activists in the tunnels include veteran environmental campaigner Swampy, real name Daniel Hooper, and his son Rory.