Diesel protesters invade port
Five people have been arrested and bailed after Greenpeace protesters attempted to stop Volkswagen diesel imports leaving the port of Sheerness.
Two men and a woman were arrested after 25 clean-air campaigners in kayaks and boats drew up alongside a 23,498-tonne car carrier in the Thames Estuary at about 8.30am last Thursday. Two climbed aboard and hung from the 27-metre-high unloading door, refusing to leave until VW agreed to take its “toxic cars” back to Germany.
Meanwhile, 41 campaigners scaled fences at Sheerness docks – the intended destination of the ship – and gained entry to an area where several thousand VW cars awaited distribution to suppliers.
They removed thousands of keys from ignitions, before lifting the bonnets and labelling the engines with messages calling on VW to ditch diesel.
Two women took the keys and climbed on top of a lighting gantry for the night.
The women and a man were later arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
Two others were arrested under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 on suspicion of entering a vessel.
All five of those arrested have been released on bail until October 19.
Greenpeace said the group had forced the huge cargo ship, the Elbe Highway, to turn round. It was then anchored off Margate before returning to the docks on Friday afternoon. All protesters had left by 3pm.