Why are Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion protesters targeting Birmingham?

Environmental activists are blocking an oil terminal in Birmingham this morning (1 April), causing traffic delays in the area.

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

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

Six people at the protest in Birmingham have been arrested this afternoon.

ExxonMobil UK, one of the country’s largest privately-owned underground oil pipeline distribution networks, confirmed demonstrations were under way at some of its sites on Friday morning.

West Midlands Police have asked motorists to avoid Wood Lane, Bromford Lane and Tyburn Road - near to the station, while they deal with the incident this morning.

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.

What has West Midlands Police said?

A spokesman for the force, said: “We’re currently responding to activists at a site in Tyburn, Birmingham.

“We are working to deal with this as quickly as possible. Delays are expected this morning on the following roads: Wood Lane, Bromford Lane and Tyburn Road.”

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