Oil tankers escort by police as protesters arrested for allegedly trying to block shipments

Convoys of oil tankers have been leaving a depot with a police escort as another 10 protesters were arrested today (Mon) suspected of trying to block shipments during the fourth day in a row of disruption.

Since Friday (April 1) more than 160 activists have been taken into custody for blocking "critical" sites in Essex.

Campaigners from Just Stop Oil, with support from Extinction Rebellion, carried out the demos at 10 sites in the Midlands and southern England against fossil fuel use, causing one oil company to shut down four terminals.

ExxonMobil UK - one of the UK's largest privately-owned underground oil pipeline distribution networks - said it was forced to close four sites in Birmingham, London, Southampton and Hertfordshire on Saturday.

In Thurrock, Essex, activists blocked access to the Titan Truck Park and the Navigator oil terminals, revealing a secret network of tunnels at the Navigator and Grays oil terminals showing them burrowing underground.

Just Stop Oil’s website stated the group took inspiration from the underground protest by eco-activists that halted HS2’s construction at Euston Square Gardens last year.

Yesterday (Sun) 35 people were arrested, while 57 were taken into custody on Saturday and 63 activists were nicked on Friday, Essex Police said.

Today officers stopped another 10 suspects as police cars and motorbikes were seen escorting a trail of oil tankers from the targeted depot in Thurrock - taking the total number arrested to 165.