Six Extinction Rebellion activists have now been arrested after a group of them - including two Olympians - climbed onto an oil tanker in London on Saturday.
Olympians Etienne Stott and Laura Baldwin joined in the protest and scaled a Shell tanker in Bayswater Road, in London, Extinction Rebellion said.
The activists clambered aboard the oil tanker during a protest calling for an end to fossil fuels.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
— Extinction Rebellion UK 🌍 (@XRebellionUK) April 16, 2022
Rebels including Olympians Etienne Stott & Laura Baldwin are occupying an oil tanker in central London. We call on the govt to end all new #FossilFuels investment NOW https://t.co/uKDeMDBfGU pic.twitter.com/vCbPdpRlCD
In a tweet about the protest, XR said: “Rebels including Olympians Etienne Stott & Laura Baldwin are occupying an oil tanker in central London. We call on the govt to end all new #FossilFuels investment NOW.”
Mr Stott said: “I am acting to try to disrupt the toxic fossil fuel industry that is destroying everything we hold dear.
“I am hoping we can slow it down long enough to create a moment where everyone can stop and think where we are going and change course.”
There were six arrests for vehicle interference, police said.
It is day 16 of the Extinction Rebellion protests in the capital and they showed no signs of slowing down over Easter.
In a statement, Met Police said: “We attended Bayswater Road at approx. 0850 BST to deal with a number of protestors who had climbed on an oil tanker. We have made six arrests for vehicle interference. The road is now open.”
A spokesperson for Shell said: “We respect the right of everyone to express their point of view – we only ask that they do so with their safety and the safety of others in mind.
“We agree that society needs to take urgent action on climate change. Shell has a clear target to become a net-zero emissions business by 2050, in step with society.
“We are also deeply committed to the UK and are planning to invest between £20 billion and £25 billion in the UK energy system over the next decade – more than 75% of this will be in low and zero-carbon products and services, including offshore wind, hydrogen and electric mobility.
“We welcome constructive engagement on our strategy and the energy transition.”
The activists took over London’s bridges on Good Friday bringing the capital to a standstill.
They marched onto Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge and London Bridge to protest the Government’s response to climate change.
Extinction Rebellion have been storming the streets of London throughout April in an attempt to disrupt the fossil fuel industry.
They said: “In April, Extinction Rebellion has joined forces with other movements to block oil facilities around the UK until the government agrees to our immediate demand: stop all new fossil fuel investments immediately.
“Standing in solidarity with all people around the world who are defending their lives, land, wildlife and cultures in the face of the crisis, we will cause maximum material disruption and tell the story of the fossil fuelled corruption at the heart of our democracy.
“Now we need everyone to flood the street of London from 9 April and make meeting the immediate demand politically unavoidable.”
