Activists have vowed to make it "impossible" to own an SUV in Edinburgh with a planned vandalism spree on the cars - amid fears a motorist could be killed.
Eco group The Edinburgh Tyre Extinguishers - part of a loose international collective - described owning an 4x4 in the city as "immoral" and intend to make it "impossible" to own the flash cars.
The climate-conscious vandals target the vehicles by letting tyres down overnight - but promised they would not target working class neighbourhoods and instead have hit New Town, Morningside and Portobello, including cars owned by NHS staff.
A motorist whose vehicle was targeted in Leith urged other owners to inform the police "before someone is injured or killed."
Notes were left on the vehicles they target entitled 'Attention - your gas guzzler kills.'
A member of the group who lives in Edinburgh said: "We would never target working-class areas but our actions will continue, in this city and beyond.
"Until we see SUVs put on the scrapheap - by politicians or people learning that buying one means it will likely have its tyres deflated - we will continue our action.
"Cars must be designed out of cities. Edinburgh is a small city with relatively good public transport. Most people don't need to drive.
"We want bans on SUVs in urban areas, pollution levies to tax SUVs out of existence, and massive investment in free, comprehensive public transport.
"We have been compelled to act because asking politely for safe streets, clean air and climate action has failed.
"If governments and politicians won't protect us, we will protect ourselves by making it impossible to own a huge polluting vehicle in Edinburgh."
The group, which claims to have 'disarmed' nearly 2,000 SUVs across the UK, encourages people to visit its website to learn how to deflate tyres.
Recent research shows SUV sales increased 10 per cent between 2020 and 2021 putting them on course to make up nearly half - 45 per cent - of global car sales and making them one of the largest contributors to increase in global CO2 emissions.
The activist said: "We are people from all walks of life. Many of us have never done anything like this. We have been forced into this position.
"We are trying to prevent climate change, which is causing and will cause millions of deaths. In the climate emergency, with people dying every day, our moral responsibility is to take action.
"Right now there is a deadly heatwave in South Asia. In this context, owning a huge unnecessary vehicle that causes much more emissions than smaller cars is immoral, and it must be stopped."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police are aware that a number of vehicles in the North East of Edinburgh have had their tyres deflated and activist group leaflets placed on them.
"Officers are currently investigating.
"If you discover your tyres have been deliberately deflated or if you have any information about this, please contact police on 101."
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