Just Stop Oil Chaos: Dozens Arrested in Major Fuel Terminal Protests
Activists from Just Stop Oil have wreaked havoc across England since Friday, blocking access to multiple oil terminals. Their demand? An immediate halt to new oil and gas projects in the UK.
Mass Arrests and Heavy Police Presence
Warwickshire Police confirmed they are still on site at Kingsbury, trying to end the protests swiftly. So far, 54 people are held on suspicion of criminal damage, public order, and highway obstruction offences.
“We fully acknowledge every person’s right to engage in lawful protest, however, when that protest becomes unlawful and disproportionate in nature, we will act to protect the rights of others,” said Assistant Chief Constable Ben Smith.
“A large number of officers have been deployed over the last two days. I am hopeful the situation can be brought to a swift conclusion so my officers can return to protecting Warwickshire communities.”
Disruptions Spread from Essex to the West Midlands
In Essex, two tunnels at Navigator and Gray’s Terminal remain occupied. Police reported 83 arrests in the Thurrock area over the weekend. Meanwhile, seven other oil facilities near London and in the West Midlands also face ongoing disruptions.
Protests Turn High-Impact and High-Profile
Early Friday saw activists from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion target 10 fuel sites across the Midlands and southern England. Protesters glued themselves to roads and locked onto oil drums and to each other, grinding operations to a halt.
ExxonMobil UK, owning one of the country’s largest private underground oil pipeline networks, had to shut down three terminals because of the action. Police from at least five forces were scrambled to tackle the protests.
The Met Police arrested 14 at a Bedfont Road facility in Staines, Surrey, while West Midlands Police detained six protestors at a terminal in Tyburn, Birmingham.
