With orange banners and vests, the Emergency Brake blocked morning traffic at the intersection of Jagtvej and Østerbrogade. Several drivers tried in vain to get past.
On Friday morning, drivers in Copenhagen were greeted by a total standstill in traffic when climate activists from Nodbremsen closed a central intersection with banners and vest-clad protesters.
According to press photos from the scene, the activists stood in the middle of the morning traffic at Jagtvej and Østerbrogade, where they tried to send a message with the text "Drop the new motorways".
Several drivers tried to roll through the blockade, but had to give up. As has been seen many times when demonstrations have taken place in the capital.
The police intervened quickly
At 8:00 a.m., the police were already at the scene and began removing the activists from the road by force. According to the Copenhagen Police, a total of 20 people were charged with violating the traffic law and the public order ordinance.
Shortly before 08:20, all protesters had been removed, but police warned of continued congestion in the area. Shortly after, however, the activists attempted to occupy the roadway again.
"The police got them off the road again, and this time officers confiscated banners and the activists' orange vests," reports Presse-fotos.dk's correspondent from the scene.
The blockage resulted in massive traffic jams and frustration among morning-busy drivers.
The emergency brake will stop highways
Nodbremsen has held similar campaigns several times in the past, using car traffic as a target for attention. The organization believes that the state should stop all plans for new highways and instead invest heavily in public transport.
On social media, Nodbremsen defended Friday's blockade and wrote that "it is necessary to raise awareness about politicians' lack of climate action."
The action on Friday is part of a series of planned demonstrations by the group. The emergency brake has previously blocked streets, highways and entrances to ministries.
According to eyewitnesses, several drivers have expressed great frustration over the action, which created long traffic jams and delays in morning traffic.
Previously, drivers have been charged with violence in connection with the Emergency Brake demonstrations, as several demonstrators have been briefly run over by drivers. Something that will probably happen again, several observers believe.
