Climate change campaigners have staged a protest at an oil facility near Heathrow Airport on their fourth day of action. Extinction Rebellion said around 30 protesters returned to the Esso West site in west London on Monday as part of their campaign to urge the UK government to stop using fossil fuels.
In a statement, the group said they were blocking the entrance with two bamboo structures. Large banners saying "Stop Fossil Fuels Now" and "Join Us – London 9th April", referring to a planned demonstration in London's Hyde Park, were displayed.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the protest and officers are at the scene. In an update on Monday afternoon, Extinction Rebellion said the force had "begun dismantling this structure while a protester remains attached at height".
Since Friday, the campaigners and a second group, Just Stop Oil, have staged a number of protests at oil terminals and refineries across the UK, including at Grays, Purfleet, Buncefield, Tamworth and central Birmingham. More than 80 people were arrested in Essex over the weekend, while 14 were held in Staines in Surrey, and six were arrested in Birmingham.
Andrew Smith, from Extinction Rebellion, said: "We're here to say that climate action cannot wait. Right now, governments are choosing to exploit the crisis in Ukraine to hand out oil licences and continue the fossil fuel economy that's destroying us.
"The reality is, the UK public wants faster action on climate as the energy crisis hits. We know what is happening and what needs to be done – by acting in favour of corporate interest over the will of the people, the government is showing contempt for the people who elected them.
"How long ago did our prime minister say Cop26 was our last chance to save humanity? And now they're sidelining climate policy once again. This is not living in reality."
