Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Activists arrested at petrol station protest
JUST Stop Oil protesters smashed up a West London petrol station on Friday as an angry passer-by called them ‘morons’.
Video footage shows two protesters going around the petrol station smashing the petrol pump screens with a yellow hammer and spraying them black.
The video shows protesters targeting a BP petrol garage on Talgarth Road, Hammersmith, one of a number that were targeted as part of the action. A statement from the group this morning said action started from 6am today, with protests across West and South London affecting up to seven service stations.
In some locations, Just Stop Oil supporters blocked access to the petrol pumps by sitting in the road with banners. Elsewhere, groups moved from one station to the next “decommissioning” petrol pumps by breaking the display glass or covering them with spray paint before sitting down to await arrest.
The groups statement said: “51 supporters of Just Stop Oil have blocked service stations and decommissioned pumps across central London this morning in support of their demand that the UK government end new oil and gas projects in the UK.”
They added: “This is the moment to come together and resist. We are not prepared to just watch while they destroy everything we love. We’re done with begging. Voting has changed nothing. We are going to stop new oil whether those in power agree or not.
“As citizens, as humans, as parents and children we have every right under British law to protect ourselves and those we love. This is the moment, we are the last generation that can solve this. Will you step up and join us? If we all come together we can do this. We can Just Stop Oil.”
A statement from the Met Police said: “Police were called at 06:29hrs
on Friday, 29 August to reports of protestors damaging pumps at a petrol station in Talgarth Road, Hammersmith. Officers attended and within approximately 10 minutes had arrested four men and one woman on suspicion of criminal damage. They remain in custody at a west London police station. Enquiries are ongoing.”