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Six people have been arrested after Extinction Rebellion protesters – including two Olympians – climbed onto a Shell oil tanker in London as the group continues to bring chaos to the capital.
Gold medal-winning slalom canoeist Etienne Stott and sailor Laura Baldwin glued themselves to the top of the tanker at a petrol station in Bayswater, near Paddington this morning.
The eco-mob group, who have pledged to bring chaos and huge disruption to London’s street, unfurled banners reading ‘End fossil fuels now’.
The Met said six arrests for vehicle interference had been made. It is not known if the two Olympians were among those arrested.
Met Police officers were earlier photographed at the scene, but appeared to only be standing by to prevent a traffic build up and to guard the tanker rather than pull down the protestors.
Etienne Stott, a former British Olympian who took home gold at London 2012, was seen atop the tanker being given a hard hat as police looked to remove him and another activist.
In a tweet about the protest, XR said: ‘Rebels including Olympians Etienne Stott & Laura Baldwin are occupying an oil tanker in central London. We call on the govt to end all new #FossilFuels investment NOW.’
In a statement, Met Police said: ‘We attended Bayswater Road at approx. 0850 BST to deal with a number of protestors who had climbed on an oil tanker. We have made six arrests for vehicle interference. The road is now open.’
It comes after members of the eco-mob blocked four of London’s busiest bridges on the first day of the Easter bank holiday.
Extinction Rebellion protesters have climbed onto a Shell oil tanker in London as the group continues with its series of ‘disruptions’ in the capital. Pictured: The protest in Bayswater, near Paddington
Photos appears to show the protestors glueing themselves to the wheel arches of the tanker which is stopped in the middle of the Queensway to the north of Hyde Park this morning
Met Police officers were photographed at the scene, but appeared to only be standing by to prevent a traffic build up and to guard the tanker rather than pull down the protestors
British former Olympian Etienne Stott is given a hard hat by police as they attempt to remove him and an activist from an oil tanker where Extinction Rebellion launched a protest this morning calling for an end to fossil fuels
Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists were on Waterloo, Blackfriars, Lambeth and Westminster bridges, calling for an end to new fossil fuel investments.
Demonstrators played bongos and waved banners reading ‘end fossil fuels now’ and ‘love in action’ in front of queues of traffic.
Some of their actions have proved questionable, after the bridge stunts affected several routes for London buses, which are either eco-friendly or emit zero exhaust emissions.
It a video clip seen on Sky News on Thursday, a interviewee claimed the group had mistakenly stopped a tanker that was carrying cooking oil, rather than fossil fuels.
Earlier, activists who have infiltrated an oil plant near Birmingham vowed ‘we’ll be here as long as we can’ after climbing on top of the facility as part of a series of dawn protests.
Eco-zealots from Just Stop Oil have managed to climb on top of a loading bay at Kingsbury Terminal in Warwickshire after gaining access to the facility in the early hours of this morning.
Members of the group – who aim to put pressure on the Government to block new oil and gas projects in the UK – have also climbed on top of an oil tanker at Gray’s Terminal in Essex and have targeted the nearby Navigator Terminal in Thurrock.
Several oil firms have now secured civil injunctions aimed at the stopping environmental protesters from targeting their fuel processing sites. Pictured: Activists stop an oil tanker near Hyde Park
Extinction Rebellion activists are expected to continue their disruptions, starting out in Hyde Park most days, as we head towards summer
Warwickshire Police say they have already arrested 12 activists from the group, while Essex Police say they have charged 12 people following protests in Thurrock. Despite the police crackdown, today one member of the group said they and six others are still inside the Kingsbury Terminal.
In a video, posted on the Just Stop Oil Twitter account, one activist said: ‘In the early hours of this morning seven of us climbed up in amongst the pipes of the loading bay, blocking the terminal.
‘We intend to stay here as long as we can, or until the Government decides to stop all new oil and gas projects.’
It comes as tempers today flared between lorry drivers and activists at one protest, with one haulier seen appearing to yank an activist off a tanker.
Several oil firms have now secured civil injunctions aimed at the stopping environmental protesters from targeting their fuel processing sites.
A number of key operators including Navigator Thames, ExxonMobil and Valero gained their injunctions in the last few days, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said yesterday.
It comes as dozens of climate activists were charged after arrests were made at protests at oil depots.
The Just Stop Oil activists say they arrived in the early hours of Friday at the Kingsbury terminal near Tamworth, Staffordshire, as well as the Navigator Oil terminal in Thurrock and Grays oil terminal, both in Essex.
The recently imposed injunctions aim to prevent protest activity at oil sites across the UK.
Energy Minister Greg Hands said: ‘While we value the right to peaceful protest, it is crucial that these do not cause disruption to people’s everyday lives.
‘That’s why I’m pleased to see oil companies taking action to secure injunctions at their sites, working with local police forces to arrest those who break the law and ensure deliveries of fuel can continue as normal.’
Valero Energy had obtained a High Court injunction against a number of environmental groups and ‘persons unknown’ earlier this week following recent protests at the Kingsbury terminal.
It bans anyone from damaging any part of the land at each of the firm’s sites, from ‘affixing themselves to any other person or object’ on the land or parts of access roads, and from building any structure.
Valero also owns and operates sites in Manchester, Cardiff, Plymouth and Avonmouth.
On Friday morning, pictures of climate activists, affiliated with Extinction Rebellion, showed people in orange hi-vis jackets on top of oil tankers and blockading roads, while holding signs.
Demonstrators take part in Extinction Rebellion protest on Westminster Bridge in London this afternoon, one of four protests
Police speak with activists from the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion (XR) as they block Blackfriars Bridge in London
The green activists claim production has been halted at Kingsbury Oil Terminal, near Birmingham , this morning after activists gained access to the site. The group have also blocked access to Grays Inter Terminals. The group, along with Extinction Rebellion (XR), have targeted oil sites across the country across April
Essex Police says a further 12 people aged 19 to 64 have been charged following the protests, bringing the total to 23.
They are charged with either interfering with a motor vehicle and wilful obstruction of a highway or aggravated trespass.
The force said 28 people were arrested on Friday, bringing the total number of arrests made since April 1 to 454.
Warwickshire Police said 12 arrests had been made.
Activists from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have been blocking access to oil terminals, demanding that the Government stops new oil and gas projects.
A dozen activists are said to be at the scene in Tamworth and have locked themselves on to pipes, while roadblocks and ‘tanker-surfing’ has taken place at the sites in Essex.
Officers remain in Thurrock where a small number of people continue to protest.
Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said: ‘It is anticipated the road network will be busy today and in the coming days, as people travel and spend time with family and friends during the Bank Holiday weekend.
‘Our dedicated officers will continue to work across the weekend to keep Essex moving, keep people safe and minimise disruption to the public.
‘We also continue to work closely with our colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service to secure charges where possible.
‘As demonstrated this week, if you come to Essex and engage in disruptive and dangerous protest, we will arrest you.’
Warwickshire Police said: ‘Officers remain at Kingsbury Oil Terminal today and are currently dealing with protest activity after a number of protesters arrived overnight.
‘There is minimal impact to the wider community at this time.’
Source: Daily Mail
