Just Stop Oil protests: Activists arrested over M25 services damage

Police have arrested protesters after fuel pumps were damaged and activists glued themselves to service station forecourts on the M25.

Surrey Police said nine people were held after protests at Clacket Lane and Cobham services, prompting fuel supplies to be cut at the sites.

Just Stop Oil said they were also staging action at Thurrock in Essex.

Surrey Police said the nine people had been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Just Stop Oil said 32 protesters had targeted three service stations on the M25 from 05:00 BST on Wednesday, including Clacket Lane on both clockwise and anticlockwise sides of the motorway, Cobham and Thurrock.

The group said its supporters blocked access to petrol stations by sitting in the road with banners, while some petrol pumps were vandalised.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said Cobham services petrol station had reopened after all protesters were removed from the site, although some fuel pumps remained unusable after being damaged.

He said seven people arrested at Cobham remained in police custody.

On Tuesday, Just Stop Oil blocked two oil depots in Essex and Warwickshire, resulting in 35 arrests.

The group warned it would "continue the disruption until the government makes a statement that it will end new oil and gas projects in the UK".

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