Eco mob causes chaos at UK’s largest oil depot: 25 protestors climb on lorries at Thurrock terminal
Now eco mob causes chaos at UK’s largest oil depot on SIXTH day of mayhem: 25 protestors climb on lorries at Thurrock terminal – after police finally remove activists from tunnels under road
Some 25 protesters entered the Navigator oil terminal in Thurrock this morning The environmental group locked themselves to pipework and sent out videosMeanwhile, two supporters of group who dug tunnels were arrested last night UK motorists continue to suffer at pumps with petrol prices hitting record levels
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Just Stop Oil activists today climbed onto lorries at the UK’s largest oil depot as they blocked critical facilities for the sixth day in a row.
Some 25 protesters from the environmental organisation stormed the Navigator oil terminal in Thurrock, Essex, and locked themselves to pipework.
The group displayed banners and sent out video messages during the protest, which started at around 3am.
Elsewhere, another 11 activists sat down in the road as they attempted to block a nearby roundabout before being intercepted by police.
Meanwhile, two supporters of the group who spent five days in a secret network of tunnels dug at the oil terminal were removed and arrested last night.
It comes as UK motorists continue to suffer at the pumps with petrol prices hitting record levels in recent weeks after Brent crude oil hit a high of $128 last month – up from lows of $19 seen at the peak of the pandemic.
Some 25 protesters from the environmental organisation climbed onto lorries (pictured above) at the Navigator oil terminal in Thurrock, Essex, and locked themselves to pipework today
Elsewhere, another 11 activists sat down in the road before being intercepted by police. Pictured: Activists from Just Stop Oil attempt to block traffic in Thurrock, Essex, today
Meanwhile, two supporters of the group who spent five days in a secret network of tunnels (pictured on April 1) dug at the oil terminal were removed and arrested last night
Among the activists at the Navigator oil terminal today was 23-year-old Hannah, from Brighton, who said: ‘I’m so scared. It’s obscene.
‘I’m 23 and the only way people will listen to me is if I lock onto the pipework of a fuelling station.’
And Nathan, 22, from Coventry, said: ‘It’s quite simple. New oil does not happen if our government is serious about the climate crisis.
‘I am facing living out the rest of my life surrounded by unimaginable horror that has been brought on us all by the rich and powerful.’
He added: ‘Fossil fuel companies, governments, and dirty bankers have gotten away with robbing ordinary people across the world, and the UK, for too long.’
As of Monday, police across the UK had arrested a total of 275 people in connection with the fuel protests – including activists who erected bamboo towers outside an oil terminal near London Heathrow Airport yesterday.
Essex Police said they had arrested 10 people earlier this week following a number of demonstrations at fuel sites in the county on Friday.
The force added it had arrested 172 people in total as of yesterday and it was ‘continuing to engage with a small number of people remaining in situ’.
Activists from the Just Stop Oil environmental group are detained by police as they attempt to block traffic in Thurrock, Essex, this morning
Two police officers are seen alongside four Just Stop Oil protesters in Thurrock, Essex, today. It comes as UK motorists continue to suffer at the pumps with petrol prices hitting record levels in recent weeks
On Monday, Extinction Rebellion said around 30 protesters returned to the Esso oil facility near Heathrow Airport at 4am, erecting a bamboo structure in front of its entrance.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said four people had been arrested, bringing the total number of arrests following protests in London and Staines to 18.
Warwickshire Police meanwhile said it had arrested 68 people for a range of alleged offences including criminal damage, obstructing a highway and public order offences after weekend protests at Kingsbury Oil Terminal.
West Midlands Police said 13 people had been arrested following a protest at a terminal in Tyburn, Birmingham on Sunday.
Hampshire Police said its figure stood at four arrests after demonstrations took place on Friday at Hythe Terminal in New Road in Hythe and at BP in Hamble Lane and Copse Lane.
Andrew Smith, from Extinction Rebellion, said following the Esso protest: ‘We’re here to say that climate action cannot wait. Right now, governments are choosing to exploit the crisis in Ukraine to hand out oil licences and continue the fossil fuel economy that’s destroying us.
Police on the scene as the eco protesters block a road leading to the Kingsbury oil terminal in Warwickshire yesterday morning
Activists from Just Stop Oil sit on an oil tanker as they block the Kingsbury oil terminal in Warwickshire on Tuesday morning
Some 20 protesters sit down in the road with banners at the gate to the Kingsbury oil terminal in Warwickshire yesterday
‘The reality is, the UK public wants faster action on climate as the energy crisis hits. We know what is happening and what needs to be done – by acting in favour of corporate interest over the will of the people, the Government is showing contempt for the people who elected them.
‘How long ago did our Prime Minister say Cop26 was our last chance to save humanity? And now they’re sidelining climate policy once again. This is not living in reality.’
The group said further action is expected from this Saturday in London’s Hyde Park.
A Government spokesman said: ‘Any criminal activity will not be tolerated, and swift action is being taken by the police, preventing significant disruption to the public and industry.
‘While we are working to drive down our use of expensive fossil fuels, there will continue to be ongoing demand for oil and gas over the coming decades while we transition to cheaper low-carbon energy.
‘As the Business Secretary has said, turning off our domestic source of gas overnight would put energy security, British jobs and industries at risk, leaving us more dependent on foreign imports.’
