Oil blockades planned to last 'as long as possible', says Extinction Rebellion

Blockades of fuel terminals across the country are planned to last “as long as possible”, an Extinction Rebellion activist has said.

Protesters from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have forced Exxon Mobil to suspend operations at three of its sites this morning by blocking the roads outside.

Sites in Birmingham, Kent, Essex, Southampton, and others have been affected, with Essex Police confirming six arrests have been made so far.

Extinction Rebellion activist Andy Smith told a press conference this morning: “The plan is to blockade those sites for as long as possible.

“I believe the conversations that have been had between rebels on the ground and oil workers on the sites have been very positive, and that there is a general agreement that oil and fossil fuel extraction has to stop.

“I’m fully aware that people working on these sites are also concerned about these issues.”

Just Stop Oil made headlines last month when their activists locked themselves to goalposts during Premier League games.

One activist, Louis McKechnie, who managed to cause an eight-minute delay to Everton v Newcastle at Goodison Park, told The Big Issue he felt like the “most hated man on the planet”.

The group is demanding an end to all new fossil fuel extraction in the UK.

Extinction Rebellion is preparing for a fresh round of protests this month, with activists expected to gather in Hyde Park.

However, the group said there would be “no pink boats” this time, instead focusing on mass participation rather than disruption.