More than 50 protesters from eco-group Just Stop Oil are blocking service stations and decommissioned pumps across central London this morning.
Starting from 6am today, actions are taking place across West and South London affecting seven service stations.
In some locations, Just Stop Oil supporters blocked access to the petrol pumps by sitting in the road with banners.
It comes after protesters caused the closure of four fuel stations at motorway services on the M25 on Wednesday.
The group said it had timed this latest action to coincide with the announcement by Ofgem that the average household energy bill will be capped at £3,549 from October 1.
Acton by Members of the climate activist group Just Stop Oil at a BP filing stain on the A40 in Perivale, west London
More than 50 protesters are involved in the action, days after 31 people were arrested for disrupting stations on the M25
Members of the group smashed screens at petrol pumps and spray painted them to ‘decommission’ services at the sites
Police are at some of the seven sites already, where action started at 6am to target rush hour traffic
Activists blocked the entrances and exits to multiple fuel stations in the capital this morning, shortly before the new energy price cap was announced
Action by Members of the climate activist group Just Stop Oil at a BP filling station on the A40 in Perivale, west London
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.
In a statement, the group said: ‘Just Stop Oil continues to resist the government’s plans to greenlight 46 new oil and gas projects by 2025.
‘Today’s action was timed to coincide with the announcement by Ofgem of a massive increase in electricity bills for October which will push millions more into poverty, forced to choose between heating and eating.’
The group has repeatedly protested against oil use in recent days, including at service stations on the M25 motorway.
At one site on Talgarth Road, Hammersmith, police have already made arrests in an effort to clear the station.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘We were called at 06:29hrs today to reports of protesters damaging pumps at a petrol station in Talgarth Road, Hammersmith.
‘Officers responded and within around 10 minutes five people had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They remain in custody.’
One climate activist Tez Burns, 34, a bicycle mechanic and physics graduate from Swansea 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.
‘We are not special, we are ordinary people, with different backgrounds and stories to tell, who have overcome the fear of causing disruption.
‘We know from history that nonviolent civil resistance works. Will you also step up and join us, or will you look back in 10 years wishing that you had?’
Jade Calland, 29, from Lancashire, also taking action today said: ‘I cannot stand by while young people, people on low incomes and those least responsible for the climate crisis have their lives destroyed.
‘Today we are resisting the government’s plans to allow more oil and gas. We want to stop the misery forced on millions by rising energy bills, food poverty, poorly insulated housing and a society run for the benefit of the fossil fuel companies and the rich.
‘In October, thousands of us will occupy Westminster until the government agrees to end new oil and gas. Don’t be a bystander, step up and join us. Now is the time to resist the destruction of everything we love.’
This story is being updated.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11148377/Eco-mob-target-SEVEN-petrol-stations-London-Activists-vandalise-pumps-block-forecourts.html
