Six people have been arrested after Extinction Rebellion protesters – including two Olympians – climbed onto a Shell oil tanker in London as the group continues to bring chaos to the capital.
Gold medal-winning slalom canoeist Etienne Stott and sailor Laura Baldwin glued themselves to the top of the tanker at a petrol station in Bayswater, near Paddington this morning.
An eco-mob group that has pledged to cause chaos and great disruption in London’s streets, unfurled banners saying “End fossil fuels now”.
According to The Met, six people were arrested for interference with vehicle vehicles. We don’t know if two Olympians were arrested.
Met Police officers had been photographed earlier at the site, but they appeared only to be there to stop traffic from building up and protect the tanker instead of pulling down protestors.
Etienne Stott, a former British Olympian who took home gold at London 2012, was seen atop the tanker being given a hard hat as police looked to remove him and another activist.
In a tweet about the protest, XR said: ‘Rebels including Olympians Etienne Stott & Laura Baldwin are occupying an oil tanker in central London. We ask the government to immediately stop all #FossilFuels investments.
Met Police released a statement saying that they had arrived at Bayswater Road around. 0850 BST was used to confront a variety of protestors, who had climbed aboard an oil tanker. Six arrests have been made for vehicle interference. Now, the road is open.
It comes after members of the eco-mob blocked four of London’s busiest bridges on the first day of the Easter bank holiday.

Six people have been arrested after Extinction Rebellion protesters – including Olympian slalom canoeist Etienne Stott (seen in the grey helmet) – climbed onto a Shell oil tanker in London as the group continues to bring chaos to the capital

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators have taken to the deck of a Shell tanker as they continue with their series of disruptions in London. Pictured: A protest at Bayswater near Paddington

Etienne Stott (a former British Olympian, who won gold at London 2012) was seen on top of the tanker as he received a hard cap from police while another activist was being removed

Photographs show protestors gluing themselves onto the wheels of the tanker, which has been stopped at the Queensway north of Hyde Park.

Met Police officers were captured at the scene. However, they seemed to be there to stop traffic and protect the tanker more than pulling down the protestors.
Extinction Rebellion activists gathered on Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges to demand an end of new fossil fuel investments.
Deputies played bongos, waved banners calling for ‘end to fossil fuels now’, and ‘love and action’ before the crowds.
After the bridge accidents, some of their actions were questioned. These buses are eco-friendly and emit no exhaust gases.
In a clip that Sky News aired on Thursday, an interviewee said the group mistakenly stopped fuel-powered tankers.
After climbing to the top of an oil facility near Birmingham as part of dawn protests, activists infiltrating it had promised that they would stay there as long as possible.
After gaining entry to the building in the wee hours of the morning, eco-zealots at Just Stop Oil managed to scale the loading bay at Kingsbury Terminal (Warwickshire)
The members of this group, who are trying to press the Government to prevent new oil projects in the UK from being approved, have also taken to the skies a Gray’s Terminal oil tanker in Essex.

Many oil companies now have civil injunctions that are designed to prevent environmentalists from entering their fuel processing plants. Photo: An activist stops an oil tanker at Hyde Park

As we move towards summer, Extinction Rebellion activists will continue to disrupt the system, beginning in Hyde Park every day.
Police in Warwickshire claim that 12 of their activists have been taken into police custody, but Essex Police claims they have arrested twelve people after protests in Thurrock. One member of the group claimed today that they are with six other people inside Kingsbury Terminal despite the police crackdown.
A video posted by Just Stop Oil on Twitter shows one activist saying: “In the early hours this morning seven of our activists climbed up amongst pipes at the loading bay and blocked the terminal.
“We will stay there as long and as safe as possible until we are forced to leave by the Government to stop any new oil or gas projects.”
This happened as tensions flared today between truck drivers and activists at a protest. One haulier was seen yanking an activist from a tanker.
Numerous oil companies have secured civil injunctions to stop environmental activists from targeting their fuel-processing sites.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (BEIS), said yesterday that several key operators, such as Navigator Thames, ExxonMobil and Valero, have been granted injunctions.
This comes after dozens were arrested for protesting at oil depots.
Just Stop Oil activists claim they arrived at the Kingsbury terminal close to Tamworth in Staffordshire on Friday morning, along with the Navigator Oil terminals in Thurrock, Grays, and Grays, both located in Essex.
Protest activity at UK oil sites will be prevented by the recently issued injunctions.
Greg Hands, Energy Minister: “While we respect peaceful protests, it’s crucial that they do not disrupt people’s daily lives.
“That is why I am pleased to see oil firms taking action to secure injunctions on their sites and working with local police to arrest anyone who breaks the law so that fuel deliveries can continue as usual.”
Following recent demonstrations at Kingsbury Terminal, Valero Energy obtained an injunction from the High Court against several environmental groups and “persons unknown” earlier this week.
This ban prohibits anyone from damaging any land on each site of the company, from attaching themselves or any object to land or access roads or building any structures, and it also prohibits them from damaging land.
Valero has also owned and operated sites in Manchester and Cardiff as well as Plymouth, Plymouth, and Avonmouth.
Extinction Rebellion’s Friday morning photos showed climate activists wearing orange hi-vis jackets, blocking oil tanks and holding signs.

Extinction Rebellion demonstration on Westminster Bridge, London today by demonstrators. This is one of the four protests

As activists block Blackfriars Bridge (London), police meet with Extinction Rebellion (XR), a climate protest group.

After activists gained entry to Kingsbury Oil Terminal near Birmingham, the green activists claimed that production was halted. Grays Inter Terminals has been also shut down by the group. Together with Extinction Rebellion, (XR), the group have attacked oil sites throughout the country in April
Essex Police reports that 12 more people between 19 and 64 were arrested following protests. This brings the total number of those charged to 23.
The charges against them include interfering in a motor vehicle, wilful obstruction or aggravated theft.
According to the force, 28 individuals were detained on Friday. This brings the total arrests since April 1 to 454.
Warwickshire Police reported 12 arrests.
Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil activists have blocked access to oil terminals and demanded that the government stop new oil and gaz projects.
Twelve activists were seen at Tamworth’s scene and are believed to have taken refuge in pipes. Roadblocks and “tanker surfing” took place at Essex sites.
Thurrock is still home to officers, where protestors continue.
Glen Pavelin is the Chief Constable for Essex Police. He stated that the roadway network in Essex will likely be busy during Bank Holiday weekend, when people travel to spend time with their families and friends.
“Our dedicated officers will continue their work through the weekend in order to keep Essex moving, to keep people safe, and to minimise disruption.
“We continue to collaborate closely with our colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service in order to obtain charges wherever possible.
“As we have shown this week, if anyone comes to Essex and participates in dangerous and disruptive protest, they will arrest them.”
Warwickshire Police reported that they were at Kingsbury Oil Terminal to deal with the protests after several protesters showed up overnight.
“There are minimal impacts to the larger community at the moment.”