Extinction Rebellion protesters were dragged off the top of a train and attacked by angry commuters as they tried to paralyse the London Underground network.
There were chaotic and shocking scenes as one activist was kicked and stamped on by the furious mob after he tumbled off the roof of a Jubilee line train at Canning Town station in east London.
Two climate change protesters had halted service and unfurled a banner - reading "Business as usual = death" - but they were jeered and one was pelted with food and other objects by commuters who didn't want to be late for work.
The banner was ripped out of one activist's hands and the other was dragged onto the crowded platform and "kicked in" during a disturbing attack that lasted about a minute.
The battered and bruised protester was eventually helped onto his feet, but both activists were soon arrested by police, who have condemned the commuters who were involved in the "unacceptable" attack and launched an investigation.
Do you know the people involved or did you witness the incident? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk.
Footage shows the mob on the platform berating the Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters and then cheering as commuters steal their banner.
One of the protesters runs out of the way as a commuter tries to grab his leg, and the other man is pelted with food as a Tube passenger climbs up and grabs him amid shouts of "get him off".
The commuter drags the man off the train by his leg as the crowd cheers and applauds.
The protester was kicked and stamped on as he lay on the platform. Some passengers intervened and desperately tried to protect him while others assaulted him.
In the video, a woman shouts at the mob to back off and a Tube worker wearing a high-vis vest runs in to help the activist.
People are heard pleading “don’t do it” as the protester is assaulted.
Meanwhile, a commuter climbs on top of the train, chases the second protester and then shoves him onto the platform to cheers from the mob.
It appeared that protester was assaulted after he fell onto the platform.
Another scuffle breaks out around the assaulted protester who is down on the platform. He is taunted by some of the passengers, including one man who calls him a "f***ing d***head".
A commuter on top of the train then knocks off items belonging to the protesters to more cheers.
As the assaulted protester is hauled back onto his feet, the Tube worker shouts: "No-one touch him."
The battered protester's face was bruised.
Police arrived and detained the two protesters, according to witnesses.
Witness Aaron Ramsden told Mirror Online: "The protesters used a portable ladder to mount the train. I had arrived via the DLR to catch the Jubilee and over the tannoy the announcement was for people to leave the station.
"The protesters were being filmed and abuse and objects were thrown at them.
"People were asking for them to get down. People became restless and tried to grab their legs.
"The guy in the black suit tried to fend off people but eventually was dragged off and got kicked in by about five to ten people before others and the TfL staff could intervene.
"The other guy was chased along the top of the train and managed to get off further down away from the crowd and didn’t get hurt."
Mr Ramsden added: "The protester in the suit tried to fend people off before eventually getting grabbed by the ankle.
"The other protester didn’t do anything. He looked worried when people started to try to grab them."
According to another witness, one commuter yelled "I need to get to work, I have to feed my kids" as the crowd became angry.
XR spokesman Joel Scott-Halkes told Mirror Online that both protesters were in police custody as of Thursday afternoon.
He said “One of them was quite badly bruised. He was beaten and kicked on the floor.
“The second, who was chased on the train, seems to have escaped with less injuries.”
He said a third activist who was filming the scene was knocked to the floor, kicked and stamped on after commuters noticed he had live-streaming equipment and “it looked like he was there and knew about the action”.
Cameraman Elliot Laughlin told Mirror Online the "mob went crazy" and began kicking him after throwing him off a chair that he was stood on.
Two other protesters were preparing to glue themselves to the train, but “sensing the mood they decided not to”, said Mr Scott-Halkes.
After viewing footage of the attack, he said: “My reaction was one of incredible grief and hurt to see that ordinary people such as those protesters … would face violence.
“They could have been killed.”
He added: “My greatest fear was this will be the first of many incidents we are going to see.
“This is what happens when a government continues lying to its people - ordinary people have to step up and make huge sacrifices and put themselves in the way of violence.”
Mr Scott-Halkes said protesters have faced verbal attacks, but they haven’t seen this level of violence before in London.
He added: “Ninety-nine per cent of the time the public are hugely respectful to our activists, who are always peaceful and non-violent.”
The Extinction Rebellion London Group on Facebook has seen some members disagreeing over protest action taken at Canning Town and Shadwell stations on Thursday morning.
One member of the group said: "I mean this with every respect to those involved but I can't see how the action taken this morning has caused anything other than violence and enemies... Disruption not destruction."
Another Facebook user in the group said: "Whilst I have my reservations about the decision to disrupt public transport today, I can understand why that decision was made."
A poll on the Extinction Rebellion Telegram chat showed 86 per cent of members were against action targeting the London Underground.
Just 4 per cent approved of the action, while 7 per cent approved if they could be sure trains wouldn't get blocked underground.
Following the scenes of violence, XR spokesman Howard Rees said: "Was it the right thing to do? I am not sure.
"I think we will have to have a period of reflection. It is too early to say.
"I think we need to take stock of it."
The local MP reacted angrily to Thursday's travel disruption.
Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, asked: "So what point is Extinction Rebellion making shutting down east London's public transport system, preventing ordinary people from getting to work, school, hospital?"
Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the protests, with a No10 spokeswoman saying: “What we saw this morning didn't have anything to do with peaceful protest.
“The actions this morning caused unnecessary disruption to people trying to go about their business using public transport.
“It was rightly met with a swift and robust response by police.
“I think it is worth pointing out those involved have also been criticised by their own supporters.”
Jubilee line service was temporarily halted between North Greenwich and Stratford stations, and Canning Town was shut due to the stunt and the attack.
XR protesters also targeted Shadwell and Stratford stations in east London during Thursday morning's commute, the latest in a series of demonstrations by the anti-climate change group, who have been banned from protesting in London.
Any assembly of more than two people linked to the XR Autumn Uprising action is now illegal in the capital.
A Jubilee line passenger on a different train told how the service was halted and the driver later announced that it was moving again because "your fellow commuters" had dragged the protesters off a carriage at Canning Town.
British Transport Police (BTP) said eight protesters were arrested at Stratford, Canning Town and Shadwell as the demonstrations caused severe delays on the Jubilee line and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).
A spokesperson said: "Today, officers at British Transport Police have made arrests following criminal action by Extinction Rebellion which disrupted the London Underground.
"Shortly after 6.45am, three separate incidents happened on the London Underground at Stratford and Canning Town, and then on the DLR at Shadwell.
"Eight arrests have been made so far, each person has been arrested on suspicion of obstructing the railway with attempt. They have each been taken to police custody as enquiries continue."
ACC Sean O’Callaghan, of BTP, said: “Despite our countless warnings, we are frustrated that Extinction Rebellion put people at risk to obstruct services on London’s rail network.
“Those who obstructed services are in custody and will be dealt with robustly. This type of action is completely at odds with what Extinction Rebellion are campaigning for and we will continue to urge them to not target any rail network.
“However, it was also concerning to see that a number of commuters took matters into their own hands, displaying violent behaviour to detain a protester at Canning Town.
"Understandably, the delay to passengers' journeys would have been annoying, but this level of response was unacceptable. We are now investigating this morning’s events at Canning Town in its entirety.
“It is important that commuters and other rail users allow the police, who are specially trained, to manage these incidents.
“Unfortunately, there is still a risk that Extinction Rebellion will target the rail network during this evenings peak. We will continue to have extra officers on patrol and will work to disrupt any potential criminal action before it happens.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said of the disruptive demonstrations: "I strongly condemn the Extinction Rebellion protesters who have targeted the London Underground and DLR this morning.
"This illegal action is extremely dangerous, counterproductive and is causing unacceptable disruption to Londoners who use public transport to get to work.
"It is also an unfair burden on our already overstretched police officers. I urge demonstrators to protest peacefully and within the boundaries of the law."
A spokesman for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: "RMT condemns any activity that compromises staff and passenger safety on London Underground.
"It is RMT members who have been caught in the middle of these grossly irresponsible actions.
"We call on Extinction Rebellion to call off their protests targeting the Tube network, which are putting RMT members in a dangerous and violent situation."
BTP said they had engaged with XR members to prevent the planned "disruptive and potentially criminal" action on the transport network.
Extinction Rebellion co-founder Clare Farrell defended the Tube action and said: "The public, I don't think, realise quite how serious this situation is."
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she added: "It is still peaceful, and it is still non-violent.
"People did a similar action in April on the DLR train, those people were safe.
"It makes them vulnerable, and that's what people are there to do when they put their body on the line.
"There is a vast vulnerability that people have in the face of climate and ecological emergency."
It comes as XR's bid to defy the blanket protest ban on its protests across the whole of London will come before the High Court on Thursday.
Those bringing the court action on behalf of the group, including Caroline Lucas MP and Guardian columnist and activist George Monbiot, are seeking to overturn the order imposed by the Met.
Lawyers representing the climate protesters will argue in a preliminary session that a full hearing of the case should happen 'as a matter of urgency'.
They will argue that the section 14 order imposed by the Met effectively banning all XR protests in London is unlawful.
Since last week, protesters have targeted London City Airport, shut down areas around Parliament and the Bank of England, and blockaded Google's HQ, with more than 1,600 people arrested.
Protesters were staging a peaceful sit-in at Gatwick Airport's South Terminal on Thursday and there were no plans to disrupt flights, an XR spokesman said.