More than 50 eco-warriors from Just Stop Oil have blocked service stations and smashed up petrol pumps across west and central London.
Seven petrol stations were targeted by the group from 6am on Friday in their latest actions demanding that the Government end plans for any new oil and gas projects in the UK.
Just Stop Oil supporters blocked access to a BP service station in Western Avenue, one of west London’s busiest roads ahead of rush hour.
Police stop JustOil protestors from causing havoc at a petrol station in London today pic.twitter.com/0KLhjpZngA
— UB1UB2 (@UB1UB2) August 26, 2022
Another group briefly halted traffic on Westminster Bridge at 7am holding banners and setting off flares.
Police said they had arrested as many as 30 activists in total after a different group struck a petrol station on The Embankment.
Using hammers activists “decommissioned” the meters on petrol pumps by smashing them with a chisel. Others spray painted “no new oil” over the readers rendering them unusable as others sat in the road with banners.
Just Stop Oil said its protesters moved from one station to the next after breaking the display glass or covering them with spray paint.
Video shows a BP security guard failing to stop an elderly woman from breaking the screens on several petrol pumps, telling her: “Excuse me, you can’t do that!”
Police said they moved in at 6.30am and arrested four men and one woman on suspicion of criminal damage within ten minutes.
Scotland Yard added that specialist teams are removing activists who are glued to pumps.
Tez Burns, 34, a bicycle mechanic and physics graduate from Swansea taking action today said:“I can’t live with myself, knowing what I know, without doing all I can to stop new oil and gas.
“We are suffering the worst cost of living crisis in 40 years and facing climate breakdown because of our dependence on oil.
“Yet the government is allowing energy companies to drive us into poverty with skyrocketing energy bills, and is failing to protect us from the consequences of climate collapse. Enough is enough.”
A statement from the Met Police said: “Police were called 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.”
It came days after an award-winning photographer was arrested by Surrey Police after mistaking him for Just Stop Oil eco-warriors destroying a petrol station on the M25.
