Man defies police to grab paint-spraying eco-zealot
AN angry passer-by ignored police warnings and fought back as eco- zealots sprayed paint on public buildings yesterday.
While senior police officers were accused of being too soft on the climate change pests, one outraged man defied caution over vigilante action to take on a protester.
Furious at the damage being caused, he grabbed the Just Stop Oil activist’s paint-filled fire extinguisher.
In the ensuing tussle, both became drenched in orange paint.
Footage of the confrontation outside the MI5 building in Millbank, central London, yesterday morning was later posted on social media.
Activist Tez Burns, 34, was recorded saying: “I don’t want to do this.”
The bicycle mechanic from Swansea added: “No new fossil fuel licences.”
The protest was part of a coordinated attack as fire extinguishers were also used to spray paint over the Home Office in nearby Marsham Street, the Bank of England in the City of London and the headquarters of The Times and The Sun newspapers by London Bridge.
Just Stop Oil claimed the targets were chosen as they represented those that supported the Government’s fossil fuel policy.
Six people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
The group has carried out 31 days of protests mostly aimed at causing traffic chaos in a bid to force the Government to change its policy on oil and gas.
Police have been strongly criticised by angry motorists bewildered by what they claim is a lack of action by officers.
But last week the Met’s Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist warned motorists and passers-by against taking direct action themselves.
He said he completely understood “the frustration and anger felt by the public” over the disruption but urged them not to “directly intervene” and said their action could hamper prosecutions.
Angry motorists dragged Just Stop Oil protesters away after they halted traffic in London on Saturday.
Before yesterday the Met had made 651 arrests since the latest round of action started on October 1.
The police response has accounted for more than 7,900 officer shifts, Mr Twist said.
High Court injunctions have now been handed to more than 180 of the activists in a bid to stop them causing traffic chaos in the capital.
The legal move against named protesters came after an application by Transport for London.
Mr Justice Freedman granted 121 named injunctions yesterday, adding to 62 granted at an earlier hearing.
In the past, protesters have defied the ban to carry on the disruptive action despite the risk of going to prison.