Grinning Greta Thunberg is forced to make a run for it as she is mobbed outside court after denying public order offence

Thunberg was charged after a protest in Mayfair in London on October 17.

The image shows a crowded scene outside Westminster Magistrates' Court with Greta Thunberg at the center, surrounded by a large group of photographers and media personnel with cameras. She appears to be smiling while being photographed, creating a chaotic scrum of people and equipment around her. — Greta Thunberg is seen smiling as she is mobbed by photographers outside Westminster Magistrates' Court after her court hearing

A grinning Greta Thunberg was seen running through London this morning moments after denying committing a public order offence while at an environmental protest in London last month.

The 20-year-old Swedish climate campaigner pleaded not guilty after being charged over a protest near the InterContinental Hotel in Mayfair on October 17. The building had been hosting a meeting of oil executives at the time.

Thunberg and 25 other protesters were arrested and later charged with public order offences after allegedly refusing to leave the highway and continue their demonstration on the pavement. On Wednesday morning Thunberg and four other Fossil Free London protesters pleaded not guilty to breaching Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The protest targeted the Energy Intelligence Forum 2023, which brought together 'various decision makers and innovators and other stake holders form energy, finance, and business industries'. The EIF was due to hear from the chief executives of Aramco, Repsol, Shell, TotalEnergies and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.

The image shows two people running on a street in central London. The person in front is wearing a black jacket with pink zippers and a gray hooded jacket, with a big smile on their face. Behind them is another person in dark clothing and a cap. In the background, there are photographers with cameras and other people gathered on the sidewalk, suggesting a media presence outside what appears to be a court building. — Greta Thunberg grins as she runs though central London to escape the press after Wednesday's court hearing

Prosecutor Luke Staton told the court that protesters 'began taking up positions around the entrance to the hotel thereby effectively preventing people from coming in and out, some had managed to climb onto roof and abseiled down and others sat in the road attempting to block the particular access to that location.'

The protesters were allowed to continue for approximately 5 hours until 12:32 pm when Superintendent Cox imposed conditions under section 14 that 'the protest must continue on the pavement on the south of Intercontinental Hotel.' After failing to move onto the designated protest area, Thunberg and others were subsequently arrested.

At the protest, Thunberg had urged eco-activists to 'reclaim the power' and slammed 'spineless' politicians for failing to act on global climate change. The protesters were granted unconditional bail ahead of trial on February 1, 2024.

The image shows a crowded scene with Greta Thunberg in the center wearing a gray jacket, being guided through a dense crowd of people. She appears to be moving quickly while surrounded by reporters, photographers, and onlookers. Several people are holding phones and cameras, capturing the moment as she navigates through the mob outside what appears to be a courthouse. — The Swedish activist is guided away from the crowd as she tries to get away this morning