ACTIVISTS have disrupted a panel event featuring senior BP executive Stewart Macfarlane, as the oil giant announced quarterly profits of $2.2 billion (£1.7bn), surpassing analysts’ forecasts.

Campaigners from Fossil Free London interrupted the discussion on Tuesday evening, chanting: “As Hurricane Melissa tears down lives, do your profits help you sleep at night?” before being escorted out of the event hosted by the Association of International Energy Negotiators at Simmons & Simmons LLP’s London office.

The protest came just days after Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, with scientists warning that the climate crisis intensified the storm’s impact.

BP has faced mounting criticism after scaling back its climate commitments. 

Earlier this year, the company increased its annual investment in oil and gas to $10bn (£8.2bn) while cutting more than $5bn (£4.1bn) from its low-carbon spending plans. 

A Global Witness analysis found that the rollback could cause around 72,000 additional heat-related deaths worldwide by the end of the century.

Fossil Free London director Robin Wells said the BP profits show that the company’s “green mask has slipped to reveal the oily mouth behind,” accusing the firm of fuelling global destruction while “CEOs and shareholders wine and dine in luxury.”