Climate activists declare war on ‘gas guzzler’ cars... by vandalising an electric Tesla
Environmental activists who have declared war on “gas guzzler” cars have vandalised an electric-powered vehicle.
The controversial group, who call themselves the Tyre Extinguishers, targeted a Tesla car in Clifton, Bristol.
The owner was out walking his dog while the group deflated his tyres and left their signature leaflet on the windscreen, which states: “Your gas guzzler kills.”
It does not mark the first time the activists have seemingly erroneously deflated the tyres of electric vehicles, with a similar incident on a Tesla in the London area of Notting Hill last year.
‘Strike fear’
The Tyre Extinguishers have previously said they want to “strike fear” into owners of “gas guzzling” SUVs.
The owner of the all-electric environmentally friendly Tesla said the incident had “something comical about it” but that he still felt “slightly violated”.
He told the BBC: “It’s ironic, because I was trying to do the right thing by buying an electric car. It’s ridiculous and inconvenient.
“I get why [climate activism] is happening, but I’m not seeing the point of this.”
In the same incident, the car of Mark Moran MBE, the chief executive of Hydrate for Health Ltd, also had his tyres let down.
‘Faceless bunch of eco warriors’
“Many [drivers] have been hit multiple times - mine twice for tyres and once for paint,” he said, adding that the group “are simply a faceless bunch of eco warriors who want to force their will upon people, with zero rational debate.”
He said there was “no debate” we need to help improve the environment, but said that the Tyre Extinguishers did not understand that the cost to the climate of replacing the tyres was “far in excess of any saving their smugness will make”.
Avon and Somerset Police said they received four reports that car tyres had been let down in the Clifton area overnight from Thursday to Friday.
‘Incidents connected’
In a statement, the force said: “We believe these incidents are connected to a national environmental protest group, which has previously targeted SUV vehicles in the area.
“On this occasion, one of the vehicles was scratched after the suspects were unsuccessful in letting down the tyres.”
The leaflet left on the affected cars explains that they are letting down the tyres because of the climate change emergency.
“We have deflated one or more of your tyres. We did this because driving around in your SUV has huge consequences,” it reads.
