Just Stop Oil protesters sabotage petrol pumps on M25 motorway
Environmental activists have sabotaged petrol pumps at two motorway service stations, in what they described as a “significant escalation” in their campaign against fossil fuel distribution in England.
About 35 supporters of the Just Stop Oil campaign staged blockades at the Cobham services in Surrey and the Clacket Lane services in Kent, both on the M25, smashing the display glass on petrol pumps with hammers and defacing them with spray paint.
The action against new fossil fuel targets came after the companies controlling the fuel terminals that had previously been targeted obtained civil injunctions banning protests at their sites.
The activists struck at the two motorway services at 7am. A video from one site showed a campaigner using a small window-breaking hammer to smash the glass on one pump, and spraying the broken dial with orange spray paint.
“Today’s action is a significant escalation after 10 Just Stop Oil supporters were arrested yesterday outside Kingsbury oil terminal [in Warwickshire] whilst standing peacefully on a grass verge with placards,” the campaign said in a statement.
“Since 1 April, when supporters of Just Stop Oil first began blocking oil terminals, there have been over 1,000 arrests. The supporters of Just Stop Oil will continue the disruption until the government makes a statement that it will end new oil and gas projects in the UK.”
The activists arrested at Kingsbury were due to appear in court in Birmingham on Thursday charged with contempt of court, and face up to two years in prison and the possibility of an unlimited fine. More injunction-breaking protests were planned later.
Just Stop Oil’s protests have been blamed for fuel shortages at petrol stations around the Midlands and south-east
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