Just Stop Oil protesters have blocked major oil terminals and hid in tunnels as part of their latest stand against oil and gas projects in the UK.
Around 50 protesters took part in the disruption on Tuesday morning, with 30 of them involved in actions in Essex.
Protests included a roadblock on St Clements Way, which Just Stop Oil have described as “a key tanker route to and from the Navigator terminal and occupying the Grays oil terminal in Thurrock”.
While a further 20 protesters formed road blocks on Trinity Road and Piccadilly Way in Warwickshire – the two main roads into the Kingsbury Oil Terminal.
Protesters blocked roads into and and out of two major oil terminals
Just Stop Oil
Two activists climbed on top of an oil tanker
Just Stop Oil
As traffic began to build amid the roadblock near Kingsbury, two activists climbed on top of an oil tanker, the group said.
Just Stop Oil have also revealed that five people are currently hiding in tunnels near the Grays terminal, while a further four people are in tunnels near Kingsbury.
Essex Police said they had made 20 arrests at the protests.
Inspector Stuart Austin said: “We are working to resolve these situations as quickly and safely for all those involved.
“We are focussed on keeping the county moving and keeping you safe.
Police arrived at the incident
Just Stop Oil
“Road disruption is currently minimal and I’d like to thank local drivers, workers, and business for their patience.
“I want to be clear: policing is not anti-protest but we must intervene where there is a risk to life or where laws are being broken.”
Speaking about the action, 72-year-old activist Catherine Rennie-Nash, who took part in the protests in Essex said: “I am beyond angry about the government’s plans to allow more oil and gas projects in the UK.
“I have no choice but to be in civil resistance. We need to understand that the government isn’t protecting us.
“The cost of living crisis is a choice, sky-high fuel bills is a choice, new oil and gas is a choice. Government is allowing companies to steal our wealth and destroy our future, they are criminals.”
While student Sam Holland, 20, added: “Consenting to more fossil fuels is consenting to the collapse of our food systems.
“It is consenting to the collapse of our societies, and to the deaths of hundreds of millions of people.
“Make no mistake – those in power who have planned this will be tried for crimes against humanity.”
