GREEN ZEALOTS’ RED FACES
Stunt by eco-activists to spray the Treasury in fake blood turns to farce as they lose control of hose ... and cover themselves!
THEY had planned to drench the Treasury in gallons of fake blood to protest against Government investment in fossil fuels.
But Extinction Rebellion protesters ended up spraying most of the 396 gallons of liquid – organic water mixed with beetroot – on themselves and bystanders yesterday morning.
The eco-warriors parked a gas-guzzling diesel fire engine outside the government building in central London for the stunt in what activists warned was the first of several ‘actions’ planned across the capital over the next fortnight.
Pictures showed how, using a highpressure hose, the protesters aimed the coloured water at the building’s facade but then lost control of it, flooding the road and spraying people nearby.
Four protesters in funeral dress were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Footage of the stunt – which was said to symbolise those dying because of climate change – suggests there were no police on the scene when the incident began. At least 30 officers and 12 police vehicles arrived later and a cordon was placed around the fire engine.
Reacting to the lack of police presence at the time of the stunt, Tory MP David Davies told MailOnline: ‘We were lucky it was just a group of climate change protesters with fake blood, next time it could be Isis or al Qaeda with a machine gun. We need to make sure that government buildings are protected.’
From Monday, eco-warriors plan to stage a ‘rebellion’ in London three times as big as their protest there in April.
It comes after Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave said the climate change group had placed more strain on police this year than the Grenfell Tower fire and the London Bridge and Westminster terror attacks combined did in 2017. Since April, the force has pulled a record 83,000 frontline officers away from normal duties to tackle the Extinction Rebellion protests.
The activists had bought the fire engine on eBay for about £2,000. They had been insured and the vehicle had a valid MOT. A spokeswoman added that they would also pay the congestion charge for driving into central London.
Phil Kingston, 83, from Bristol, was one of several protesters on top of the 21-year-old fire truck, which had a banner reading ‘Stop funding climate death’ on its side. Speaking before the stunt, he said: ‘I fight with all my being for my four grandchildren in this situation of existential danger.
‘I come to the Treasury to challenge these practices and to demand radical change in them.’ Protesters shouted ‘you’re a hero’ as he was led away to a police van. Next week, Extinction Rebellion protests will take place in more than 60 cities around the world. A Treasury spokesman said: ‘The UK is a world leader on climate change – having reduced its emissions by 42 per cent between 1990 and 2017. We will continue to build on this proud record.’
‘I fight with all my being’
HeRe we go again. Yesterday, a bunch of ecomaniacs drove a dirty, diesel-powered, decommissioned fire engine into Central London.
they hosed down the treasury — and themselves — with fake blood and then sat back and waited for the Old Bill to turn up.
And why wouldn’t they? Very little is likely to happen to them. even when these lunatics are caught, the punishments handed out are derisory. they’re soon back on the streets, up to their same old tricks.
it turns out that one of the ringleaders was also involved in the plot a couple of months ago to ground planes at Heathrow. Why isn’t he in jail? targeting planes flying in and out of a major international airport should be classed as an act of terrorism.
Last Christmas, 150,000 people due to fly out of Gatwick had their travel plans ruined by reports of a drone in the vicinity.
if Al Qaeda claimed responsibility, there would be a full-scale alert and tanks on the perimeter.
But because extinction Rebellion say they’re doing it to save the planet, that’s all right then.
Yesterday’s daft stunt was just the start of a planned two weeks of demonstrations, aimed at bringing London to a standstill — again.
in April, 11 days of protests closed bridges and main roads, causing disruption to the daily lives of millions of people trying to go about their lawful business.
THe police simply stood aside and let them get on with it. some even joined in. Remember the skateboarding Plod who became a social media sensation?
Who can forget that ridiculous pink sailing boat bolted down centre stage in Oxford Circus, one of London’s busiest junctions, for days on end.
At long last, the police seem to be taking the threat seriously. Or, at least, more seriously than they have up until now. Which isn’t saying much.
scotland Yard has announced that it is bringing in specialist units to deal with the climate protesters.
But we’re not talking the special Patrol Group here. the Yard is deploying officers trained in humanely releasing demonstrators who have chained or superglued themselves to buildings, railings or tarmac.
Can’t have the poor lambs hurting themselves, can we? When extinction Rebellion first turned London into one big traffic jam last november, i wrote: ‘the right to protest peacefully is an essential freedom in any democratic society. the right to make the lives of your fellow citizens a misery is not.’
Like most of these demos, though, disruption is not an unfortunate consequence, it’s the whole point.
But, for some reason, this extinction Rebellion rabble is indulged.
i’ve previously contrasted the handling of the eco-protesters with the brutal treatment meted out to Countryside Marchers in the past. the authorities seem to base their approach to demonstrations on what is judged to be the righteousness of their cause.
thus, saving the polar bears: Good. Kid gloves all round. Profoxhunting: Bad. Let’s crack some skulls, lads. Labour’s unlovely shadow chancellor John McDonnell was on Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine show yesterday giving unequivocal support to the extinction Rebellion cause.
if we don’t get behind them ‘we won’t be here’, he declared with all the piety befitting his training as a Jesuit priest.
He had particular praise for the children bunking off school. Of course he did.
What was it the Jesuits have always said? Oh yes: Give me the child and i’ll give you the man.
Make no mistake, eco-fascism is the new religion. not for the first time, i find myself quoting Chesterton: When people stop believing in God they don’t believe in nothing, they believe in anything.
i can understand union members picketing in support of a pay rise, or to fight factory closures. i can even see the point of the stop the War demos. At least they’re trying to do something tangible.
But extinction Rebellion? What is it they hope to achieve? Yesterday they draped a banner over the fire engine reading: ‘stOP FunDinG CLiMAte DeAtH’. What does that even mean? the Government has already gone beyond the call of duty, pledging unrealistic targets for decarbonising the economy.
WHAt do they expect ministers to do in response to another two weeks of disruption — close all fossil-fuel power stations and ban all cars tomorrow?
no, although i’m sure the deluded hardline tree-huggers who turned out at the treasury really do believe they can change the world.
then again, so did the BaaderMeinhof gang.
But for the majority of those planning to cause chaos over the next couple of weeks, it’s simply a new Age version of a Jolly Boys’ Outing.
they’re demonstrating for the sake of it. Look at me, Mum, i’m on sky news!
And to hell with the misery it brings to millions.
Of course, in light of yesterday’s stunt at the treasury, the great irony is that ever since Boris, as London mayor, was forced by Mother theresa to get rid of his water cannon, we can’t even turn the fire hoses on them.
Makes you proud to be British.