Seven arrested as Just Stop Oil activists target petrol depot in Tyburn

Seven people were arrested after environmental activists blocked an oil terminal in Birmingham on Friday (1 April).

Oil terminals across the country suspended operations after access roads were blocked by protesters from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.

Just Stop Oil said they had blocked “10 critical oil terminals” across the UK - including at the Esso Birmingham Fuel Terminal in Tyburn.

ExxonMobil UK, one of the country’s largest privately-owned underground oil pipeline distribution networks, said it had shut down three of its sites.

West Midlands Police said in a statement on Friday afternoon: “The protest was one of several across the country which started in the early hours of Friday, 1 April.

“Thanks for your patience if you were disrupted by the action.

“Seven people were arrested on suspicion of various crimes and we will keep some officers in the area.”

Why are Just Stop Oil activists protesting?

Activists are sitting on roads preventing tankers from leaving the sites at locations in England, including: Essex, Hemel Hempstead, West London, Southampton, and Warwickshire, as well as Birmingham.

Activists are also at a oil depot in Kingsbury, near Tamworth.

Essex Police said they have made six arrests “so far”.

In a statement, Just Stop Oil said they are targeting oil terminals to demand the government end its policy of expanding UK oil and gas production following the cost-of-living-crisis.

Just Stop Oil said in a statement: “The Just Stop Oil coalition is demanding an end to the Government’s genocidal policy of expanding UK oil and gas production and is calling on all those outraged at the prospect of climate collapse and suffering from the cost-of-living crisis to stand with us.

“Ordinary people can no longer afford oil and gas, it’s time to Just Stop Oil.

“It’s funding war and killing people in the global South, while destroying the future for young people everywhere.”

“While we respect the right to peaceful protest, our priority is the safety of our people, our neighbours, the protestors and our operations.

“We are working with the police to ensure that safety is maintained.”

The firm said it had temporarily suspended operations at the locations mentioned, but its other terminals at Purfleet and Avonmouth were not affected.

Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted Premier League football matches by running onto the pitch and tying themselves to goalposts in recent weeks.

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