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Extinction Rebellion protesters have been accused of “attacking the free press” after they blocked roads outside national newspaper presses in an attempt to prevent the titles from hitting stores on Saturday.
More than a hundred “protesters” chained themselves to the gates and each other, and parked vehicles in the street in front of the Newsprinters print shop in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and blocked access to the print shops in Knowsley, near Liverpool, last night.
The company said the print was transferred to other sites, but that there could be delays in some deliveries from The Sun, The Times, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and Financial Times.
The delivery trucks had not left the Broxbourne site by 6 am, Hertfordshire police said. The force has made up to 13 arrests, and more are expected.
More than a hundred protesters blocked access to the Newsprinters printing presses in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, (pictured) and Knowsley, near Liverpool, last night
Printing has moved elsewhere, but the protests could lead to delays in deliveries from The Sun, The Times, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and Financial Times. (In photo: Boxbourne)
Newsprinters has condemned the demonstration as an “attack on the free press”. (Pictured: Protesters blocking access to printers in Knowsley)
The printers condemned the protests as an “attack on the entire free press” that had affected workers at their jobs and others, such as newsstands, facing “financial sanction.”
“This attack on the entire free press affected many workers at their jobs,” they said.
‘Overnight printing workers, delivery drivers, wholesale workers and retail kiosks have all faced delays and financial penalties. This is a matter for the police and the Ministry of the Interior.
‘Thanks to other industry partners, the impression was transferred to other sites.
“We sincerely apologize to readers of The Sun, The Times, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and Financial Times who are unable to purchase their regular newspaper this morning due to late deliveries.”
Hertfordshire police said they were called to the Great Eastern Road outside the Broxbourne plant around 10pm, where they found around 100 protesters who had ‘secured themselves to the structures and to each other’.
Protesters remained at the scene outside Newsprinters in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, this morning. They were seen hanging from bamboo structures.
Protesters are shown above blocking the entrance to the printing plant.
Due to his actions, deliveries of several national newspapers were delayed this morning.
Deputy Chief of Police Owen Weatherill said in a statement that officers were working to facilitate “the rights of both protesters and those affected by their presence,” but that “protesters” were not cooperating.
“Protest rights are well established in this country and we remain committed to facilitating peaceful protest and ensuring compliance,” he said in a statement.
However, at this time, the group is not engaging with us and the protest is causing a major disruption to local business.
“I would like to assure you that we are doing everything possible to bring the incident to a peaceful conclusion, ensuring minimal disruption to affected businesses.”
Merseyside police tweeted Saturday morning that officers were still present at the Knowsley plant.
Extinction Rebellion (XR) claimed last night that it was using the interruption to “expose” the newspapers “not reporting on the climate and ecological emergency.”
They alleged: “The coverage in many of the newspapers printed here is polluting the national debate on climate change, immigration policy, the rights and treatment of minority groups and on dozens of other issues.”
The rally comes after XR protesters donned masks and held up posters for a rally outside the Bank of England yesterday.
Others sat in a circle next to Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square to ‘draw attention to environmental issues’
XR protesters also held a smaller rally near Motherwell aimed at disrupting distribution of the Scottish Sun newspaper on Saturday.
Meanwhile, climate change protesters have been warned that they risk a large fine if they fail to comply with coronavirus rules that prohibit gatherings of more than 30 people.
The Metropolitan Police said risk assessments explaining how XR activists minimized the possibility of Covid-19 transmission in a planned march in Westminster “did not meet the required standard.”
The force said the latest round of XR demonstrations “represents a risk, not just for those involved, but for the general public and London communities.”
On Saturday, a procession of activists that started from Brighton on foot a week ago is scheduled to march the final stretch to Parliament.
They have been banned from taking a 20-foot model boat named after teenage activist Greta Thunberg onto the streets of Westminster.
On Friday, Met Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe warned the group not to bring The Lightship Greta to an area stretching from Green Park to Lambeth.
