Just Stop Oil warns of Southport riots | UK | News
Just Stop Oil has warned that Southport-style riots will break out due to anger over climate change.
The claim comes after four Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters were arrested near Manchester Airport on suspicion of conspiring to cause a public nuisance.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said a “proactive operation” on Monday (August 5), involving officers from its specialist operations branch, prevented a targeted attack which would have caused “significant delays”.
She added that those arrested – three women aged 21, 30 and 53, and a 23-year-old man – were in possession of items which she said were allegedly used to cause damage and disruption at the airport.
A JSO spokesperson said: “Just Stop Oil supporters continue to be fully responsible for our actions and therefore the four people arrested today will accept all legal consequences.
“Accountability is an essential characteristic of nonviolence, which is at the heart of Just Stop Oil’s mission. We act because we want a safe and stable society.
“Achieving a fossil fuel treaty that ends oil and gas development by 2030 is a critical step for our government to avoid massive unrest.
“The riots and racist attacks that took place this weekend are a foretaste of what is to come as climate change progresses and places unbearable pressures on society.”
GMP’s Head of Specialist Operations, Chief Superintendent Mark Dexter, said: “We have been working hard with our colleagues at Manchester Airport and police forces across the country, sharing intelligence, with the common aim of preventing these disruptive and targeted attacks on our airports.
“We have a duty of care to all members of the public. The right to protest must be respected, but we have a duty to balance that right with the right of the public to go about their business without being subjected to unacceptable disruption.
“These arrests undoubtedly helped prevent a determined and targeted attack that would have caused significant delays and disruption to workers going on summer vacation.”
Two of those arrested have been identified by the campaign group as Ella Ward, 21, an environmental science student from Birmingham, and Margaret Reid, a 53-year-old shop worker from Kendal, Cumbria.
Seven JSO protesters were arrested last Thursday (August 1) on suspicion of public disorder after blocking the passenger search area at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5.
Both the Metropolitan Police and Heathrow said the disruption caused was minimal. Protesters were reportedly cleared within 20 minutes.
