Arrests as activists target oil terminals

DOZENS of arrests have been made after climate protesters targeted three oil terminals – after an oil firm was granted an injunction earlier this week protecting a number of its sites, including Cardiff.

The activists say they arrived in the early hours of yesterday at the Kingsbury terminal near Tamworth, Staffordshire, as well as the Navigator Oil terminal in Thurrock and Grays oil terminal, both in Essex.

Pictures from Just Stop Oil, a group of climate activists affiliated with Extinction Rebellion, show people in orange hi-vis jackets on top of oil tankers and blockading roads, while holding signs.

Essex Police says a further 12 people aged 19 to 64 have been charged following the protests, bringing the total to 23.

They are charged with either interfering with a motor vehicle and wilful obstruction of a highway or aggravated trespass.

The force said 28 people were arrested yesterday, bringing the total number of arrests made since April 1 to 454.

Warwickshire Police said 12 arrests had been made.

It comes after Valero Energy was granted an injunction against a number of environmental groups and “persons unknown” this week following protests at the Kingsbury terminal.

It bans anyone from damaging any part of the land at each of the firm’s sites, from “affixing themselves to any other person or object” on the land or parts of access roads, and from building any structure.

Valero also owns and operates sites in Cardiff, Manchester, Plymouth and Avonmouth.

Civil injunctions have also been secured by Navigator Thames and ExxonMobil in the last few days, according to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Energy Minister Greg Hands said: “While we value the right to peaceful protest, it is crucial that these do not cause disruption to people’s everyday lives.

“That’s why I’m pleased to see oil companies taking action, working with local police forces to arrest those who break the law and ensure deliveries of fuel can continue as normal.”

Activists from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have been blocking access to oil terminals, demanding that the government stops new oil and gas projects.

A dozen activists were said to be at the scene in Tamworth and have locked themselves on to pipes, while roadblocks and “tanker-surfing” has taken place at the sites in Essex.

Officers remained in Thurrock yesterday, where a small number of people continue to protest.