(Adds details, police comment on arrests)
By Ron Bousso
LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Climate protesters forced BP
to temporarily shut down its London headquarters on
Wednesday, the first day in office for the oil and gas company's
new CEO Bernard Looney.
BP said more than 100 Greenpeace activists attempted to
place 500 solar panels in front of BP's building in St James'
Square in central London, and blocked the entrances with oil
barrels.
Police said they had arrested nine people after the
protest.
Greenpeace spokesman Stefano Gelmini said several activists
had chained themselves to the oil barrels.
BP said Chief Executive Looney, who was visiting staff in
Germany on Wednesday, shared the "deep concerns" of the climate
protesters and understood their frustration and anger.
The 49-year-old Irishman will set out his vision for BP's
response to the low carbon energy transition in a speech next
week where he is expected to unveil deeper commitments to reduce
the company's carbon emissions.
BP said Looney "hopes that what he has to say then will give
people a sense that we get it and are very serious about working
to address the problem."
BP has faced growing pressure from climate activists and
investors to meet to the 2015 Paris climate goals to battle
climate change.
(Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill; editing by Alex
Richardson/Jason Neely/Jane Merriman)