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'Reckless actions' slammed by BP as Greenpeace protesters plucked from platform by police


By Hector MacKenzie

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Further arrests were made by police on Friday afternoon.
Further arrests were made by police on Friday afternoon.

OIL giant BP has described as "a precautionary measure" fresh legal moves aimed at bringing a Cromarty Firth stand-off to an end, slamming the "repeated interference and reckless actions" of environmental group Greenpeace.

The comments came on the day police arrested a further two people from the Transocean oil platform during a protest that started on Sunday when two activists boarded the rig.

That, as of yesterday evening, brought to 14 the number of people arrested in the operation which saw Police Scotland deploy helicopters, boats and specialist staff to remove the man and the woman from the platform.

BP has issued a number of interdicts against Greenpeace which has insisted it will continue peaceful protest as long as possible. In a statement it said BP's plans to drill a new well in the North Sea, giving them access to 30 million barrels of oil, is "something we can't afford in the middle of a climate emergency".

It said: "We can't give up and let oil giants carry on with business as usual because that means giving up on a habitable planet and our kids' future. The UK government has announced a target of net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050 - we have started to enforce it."

Following an operation on Friday afternoon, Chief Superintendent George Macdonald, Highlands and Islands divisional commander, said: "Officers returned to the platform around 2pm and, after deploying specialist tactics to access the area, subsequently arrested a man and woman who had been carrying out a continued protest on the rig.

Police used specialist personnel and equipment in their latest manoeuvres.
Police used specialist personnel and equipment in their latest manoeuvres.

"They have since been safely returned to shore by boat.

"Three further people were arrested on land earlier in the day in connection with this operation. This brings the total number of people arrested to 14 and enquiries are ongoing.

"The safety of everyone involved has remained our main priority throughout this challenging operation.

"Once again we utilised highly trained specialist officers from across Police Scotland and I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved for their professionalism throughout this unique and challenging situation .

"We are grateful for the significant support we have received and the continued co-operation of local communities."

A BP spokesman said of its latest legal moves, which include attempts to prevent the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise from approaching the area to offer support: "Given Greenpeace's repeated interference and reckless actions directed at our lawful business and their continued illegal defiance for court orders and police action, we have issued the injunction as a precautionary measure to protect the safety of people and operations."

Greenpeace confirmed two more of its activists were in police custody.


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