British police urged SUV drivers to check their cars before getting behind the wheel after climate activists claimed to have deflated the tyres of “around 100” vehicles in the Scottish capital Edinburgh on a single night.
According to an environmentalist group called “Tyre Extinguishers,” in the early hours of May 26, at least three teams of activists “disarmed around 100 SUVs” in the New Town, Marchmont, and Hillside areas of Edinburgh.
The group said its aim is to “make it impossible to own an SUV in the world’s urban areas,” because it claims that the vehicles are “a climate disaster,” “dangerous,” and “unnecessary.”
The group describes itself as “leaderless” and encourages people to take action by reading instructions on its website on how to deflate tyres of SUVs.
Police Scotland confirmed the force has “received a number of reports of vehicle tyres being deliberately deflated in the Edinburgh area.”
Superintendent Mark Rennie said: “This is a reckless and potentially dangerous act which could put drivers and road users at risk.
“Enquiries are ongoing and we would encourage members of the public to call us immediately if they see anyone acting suspiciously close to parked vehicles.
“I would also urge all drivers to check their vehicle before setting off and to contact the police on 101 should they suspect their vehicle has been tampered with.”
In a statement on the group’s website, the Edinburgh branch of the Tyre Extinguishers said: “Politicians talk, we act. We will defend ourselves from air pollution, climate change, and unsafe roads, and we urge others to join us.”
“Edinburgh is a small city with good public transport. Nobody living in the centre of town needs to own one of these death machines,” said a spokesperson.
This is not the first time the Tyre Extinguishers have carried out sabotage activities in the Scottish capital. The group has reportedly targeted dozens of SUVs in the city since March.
The activists have also carried out vandalism in other Scottish cities. According to the group’s website, on the night of May 26, two teams of activists “disarmed 20 SUVs” around the Craigiebarns and Broughty Ferry areas in Dundee.
The group claims there has been a “massive global escalation” of its activities over the past few weeks, “with around 4,000 SUVs now disarmed, as well as Tyre Extinguisher groups springing up in Sweden, New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, and more planned.”
